Drizzle speckled his jacket as he picked his way through the unfamiliar streets. Finally the large beige building loomed in front of him. He felt nervous wondering inside, bypassing the reception desk he followed the signs to Arthur's ward.
The papery blue curtain was pulled around Arthur's bed, there was a deep, yet gentle voice singing softly. Through a small gap he could see the two.
"Ar lan y môr mae rhosys cochion, Ar lan y môr..." Ieuans large hand held Arthur's as he gently sang to the sleeping man. The large muscular body and brutish facade were misplaced by his caring, almost motherly expression.
Alfred awkwardly inserted himself into the small curtained area.
"Well shit, it's that git who poisoned me" Arthur announced dryly as Alfred's movements awoke him.
"Wuh-"
Alfred now could see similarities between the two as the double pairs of vivid green eyes combined with thick bushy eyebrows cracked into smiles.
"Turns out you really shouldn't drink after taking a whole packet of expired anxiety pills," Ieuan shrugged. "Though I don't see how the jock here's to blame."
Alfred didn't know what to say. He hadn't been expecting such a relaxed atmosphere. Just last night he felt like the man was going to die in his arms and now he was sat wisecracking about the whole thing.
Still Alfred noticed the frailness of his hands on the mintish green sheets. The Americans lips parted slightly, trembling.
"Did you come here to see me or to catch flies?"
"Hey that's really rude!" Alfred found himself pouting like a small child. "I am the one who brought ya here"
"Alright, alright butt, you're the hero here." Ieuan found it hard to keep a straight face between the two bickering, his lip twitched slightly as he spoke, "Could you watch Art for me? I have to do speak to the doctor."
Alfred was surprised to notice the man was around the same height as him as he walked past. Ieuan had a large build reminiscent of Alfred's days as a quarterback, although he was hardly scrawny now Alfred had lost a lot of muscle since moving into graphics.
"So you saved me then? Is that it?" The tired man mused. Alfred noticed that Arthur looked better already. His skin a bit less sallow, eyes looking brighter. "The daft lot here think I was actually trying to do some harm to myself!"
Alfred didn't respond, only looking down at his beaten converse sneakers against the clean white flooring. The thought had crossed his mind, just from the way he looked and lived Alfred knew this wasn't a well man.
"Look," Arthur was quick to understand his body language "I'm long past doing daft things like that."
Alfred looked up slightly at the man, the piercing green eyes looked sternly back at him. He felt scolded, again just as a child. What did he mean by 'long past', was it the same as when Ieuan mentioned Arthur had a history?
"You look, err, better" His voice caught, betraying the pity he felt.
Arthur met his eyes with a piercing glare, "I'm pretty there's roadkill that looks better than I did last night. So don't lie to me Alfred F. Jones," he paused to smirk, "modern hero"
Heat shot through his cheeks, with a very apparent scarlet flush to running across the skin's surface. "Didn't think you'd remember that…"
"Hmm, I doubt I'll ever forget it. I don't think I've ever met anyone who's claimed to be a hero, at least no one older than about seven."
Alfred grew even more fidgety and embarrassed, he could tell he was on the verge of shouting at very ill man. Not heroic at all, but then again.
He took a single step forward to the sick man before he was blocked.
"O mighti. Will you ever stop teasing him, Arthur?" Looking down he saw the slightly hairy pale flesh of Ieuans arm, holding him back. He was gently moved with a skillful precision into a nearby chair.
He sat down and listened as Ieuan explained the options to Arthur. He didn't know whether it was still appropriate for him to be there but neither dismissed or seemed to mind him. The doctor refused Arthur's discharge, unless he was under full time supervision, for at least a month.
"So it's your choice whatever you do do, move to a psych unit, move in with me for a bit, or move in with Allistor." The last one sent Arthur's face into a grimace.
It was the first of a series of disgusted and frustrated expressions he displayed before finally sighing, "I guess I'll stay with you"
"Righty oh then, I guess I ought to be sorting you out some things"
Arthur nodded and turned his gaze to Alfred, "would you look after Earl Grey for me? All you need to do is put out food and water"
He found his head nodding automatically. From the situation he could tell it was time to go, he made his excuses and slowly made his way back to the tube.
"So Athur-san is going to be away for a month? And you are looking after the cat?"
"Yeah that's right!" Alfred felt enthusiastic as he walked back to the apartment with the shorter man.
"I would also like to offer my help, if that is acceptable" After explaining the situation he was surprised to learn that Kiku and his partner both loved cats. The quiet man hadn't really struck him as an animal lover, but there was a certain way his eyes softened talking about his boyfriends many, many cats that made Alfred believe Kiku was more than just being polite.
"Yeah, dude. It'd be great if you could help!"
Humming to himself as Kiku opening the door the their flat, Alfred made the mental note to pick up some cat food next time he was in the shop. The stairs creaked as the pair headed up into their cosy flat.
"Fancy some PvP, Alfred-san?" The Japanese man pulled out his laptop from a work bag.
"Sure! I won't let you beat me this time!" They had both hit it off after they realised they were already both players of the same MMORPG. The new player vs player feature had been a popular one, and Alfred had never yet beaten Kiku's mage character.
Frantic key tapping and electronic sound effects nearly blocked out the sounds coming from downstairs. It wasn't until Ieuan was banging on the door with all his might that the two stirred.
"I'll be needing the spare key," the man was armed with several rolls of black bin liners, "I thought I could sort the place out a bit"
Kiku silently retreated back upstairs to retrieve the key.
"Err, do you need a hand?" Alfred scratched his head, as the man opposite him bore a grin as broad as his shoulders.
XxxxX
AN: Welsh translation - Ar lan y môr mae rhosys cochion = along the shore are red roses, along the shore
Ar lan y môr is a really beautiful traditional welsh love song, I figured wales is mostly known for two things singing and rugby (and a 3rd which is NSFW) so why not?
