ALFRED

- quivering lips, harsh breathing, hair dripping with water.

Arthur's eyes are wide, laced with pools of fear and desperation. Something spikes hard and painful in Alfred's chest, unable to look away as Officials swarm the boy in front of him.

Tears leave tracks down Arthur's cheeks, his whole body shaking as he clenches his eyes shut, wills the scene he's in- the very scene Alfred concocted with his own mind- to disappear, to dissipate into the air.

Alfred watches, half shocked and half horrified because he doesn't think he's ever seen a person so broken, and he made him that way.

It was his fault-

"Dude, wake up. We're late for Math class." Gilbert's voice cuts harshly through the haze of his dream- or nightmare and he shoots up, hair sticking every which way and chest feeling constricted with an emotion he can't quite place.

Last night he hadn't gotten much sleep, his mind running with to many thoughts to count, but all of them about one person.
Arthur.
He knows that he's overstepped the line. That he overstepped the line the second he decided to find Zero and pay for info on the other boy. But he can't take it back no matter how much he wants to.

As he grabs his towel and heads for the showers he wonders if Arthur's okay now. If he'd made it back to his room last night or if they'd kept him in the infirmary overnight for observation. The other boy's sobs echo in the back of Alfred's mind as Gilbert chatters away as usual next to him, though he knows his best friend can sense the change in mood, the new atmosphere.

Once he's in the shower he sighs, leaning his forehead against the cold tiles. There's no use worrying about something he can't change right? And it's not like Arthur's his friend, he'll feel better soon enough and everything will be put behind them.

But still, he can't exactly control that same constricting pain in his chest when his mind wanders back to the other boy every few minutes. He groans and shakes his head, water running into his eyes.

I'm an idiot.

He's making his way to second period English class when rough hands grab him by the material of his shirt and shove him up against the hallway walls hard.
He grunts as the back of his head smacks against the wall, anger already rising in his chest as he opens his eyes to glare at the perpetrator because who the hell would be brave enough to push me around?

But when he's met with the most intense death glare he's received in his life, he isn't all that surprised anymore.

Allister genuinely looks like he's going to kill him.

'Who the fuck do you think you are?" Allister growls. Alfred fights the urge to roll his eyes, noticing everyone beginning to stop, their attention on the oncoming fight. He wants to sigh, tell them all to screw off but he knows it'll rile them up more. There's nothing teenagers love more at school than a fight.

A teacher will be along soon enough anyway, so it's not like Allister can do much damage before they arrive.
Alfred inwardly curses himself for letting Gilbert leave early.

"How could you?" Allister asks, voice scarily low. Alfred clenches his fists by his side, more wracked with guilt than fear if anything because of course he knows exactly who Allister's talking about.

"How could you!?" He yells this time, face dangerously close to Alfred's, his fingers gripping the material of his collar tighter.
Arthur's face flashes in his mind and he swallows, unable to look Allister in the eye. He doesn't know what to say, how to explain himself. He can't really. What he did was horrible, he has no right to fight back.
He feel's his cheeks burning in something a lot like shame.

"You disgust me." Allister breathes, voice laced with something sinister. "I should end your life with a swipe of my claws right now. I know just the poison to give you the most painful death."

"I-" Alfred begins, but Allister cuts him off, eyes narrow and hands shaking.

"Never come near Arthur again- or i'll kill you."

Well shit.

He's about to speak when a whistle is suddenly being blown, students in the hallway staring with shock as two Officials make their way down the corridor.
Allister's eyes widen for a moment, and Alfred holds back another sigh because now they're definitely in trouble. The Officials haven't been kind lately, and even though their masks are covering their faces, Alfred can tell they're pissed.

Allister let's go of the scruff of his collar, sparing him one last death glare before he's stepping towards the Officials, hands raised.

Alfred shakes his head, angry that he's been caught but follows Allister anyway.

The Officials tie special cuffs around them, genetically and technically modified to work for Mutants of any form. They don't just restrain the person, they cut off their use of power to stop them from getting themselves out.

Not to mention they kinda sting a little too, releasing painful buzzes every few minutes as if they're a reminder that the perpetrator is trapped.

Alfred sighs as he's lead down the corridor, students of all years watching with wide eyes, whispering to one another.

Normally he'd protest the whole way, attempt to get out or land a few kicks to the Officials legs. But this time he doesn't have the right he thinks.
He doesn't deserve it.

"You're a real idiot. You know that right?" A familiar voice jolts him out of his thoughts as he rounds the corner to the dining hall.

He looks up, brows raised as he spots Zero leaning against the wall by the window, arms crossed and hair lit like a halo under the dim lights of the corridor.

He stops in his tracks, looking at the blonde. "What?"

Zero rolls his eyes. "Dude, you messed up pretty bad."

Alfred sighs, running a hand through his hair because he doesn't need another reminder of how horrible he is. "Yeah. I messed up."

"I heard Arthur's still in the infirmary." Zero says, unfolding his arms. "The nurses had to knock him out with sleeping drugs right after he woke up."

"What, why?" Alfred asks, brows furrowed. They keep their voices low, knowing Officials are patrolling and students are walking by every few minutes. It wouldn't do to have anyone overhear.

"Apparently when he woke up he thought he was back home. Basically trashed the infirmary trying to get out. He had to be held down and have a needle injected straight into into his bloodstream to put him out. He resisted it though, surprised the nurses."

Alfred swears, closing his eyes as he tries to process the information. It's all my fault that he's like this.

"Fuck." He murmurs, shaking his head.

"Yep, fuck. Like I said, you really messed up this time Jones."

"I didn't think you liked Arthur."

Zero chuckles, stepping away from the wall. "Why wouldn't I? The guy's never done anything horrible to me. Hey, he even helped me pass Math last year. You know me, I don't have friends, can't trust it. But if I did? Arthur would be near the top of the list."

Alfred breathes out, that stupid constricting pain in his chest again. "Well I wouldn't worry too much if I were you. I'll probably be dead by the end of the week if Allister gets his hands on me."

Zero smirks, rolling his eyes. "Whatever. All i'm gonna say is be careful."

"Why? You think Arthur's gonna do something?"

"Arthur?" Zero raises his brows, shaking his head. "Hell no. Like you said, it's Allister you gotta watch out for." He laughs and turns to leave, eyes on Alfred as he goes.
"And I'm pretty sure your guilt is eating you alive anyway. See ya around Alfred."

With that he's gone, disappearing down the dark corridors from where he came.

Alfred watches him go then turns back towards the dining hall, a lump in his throat as he thinks about what the blonde had said. He grits his teeth as he runs a hand through his hair, his head a mess.

How am I supposed to make this right?

"So when do you think we'll be sorted into groups?" Howard asks, mouth half full with dinner as he looks out over the table.

Both Alfred and Nathan shoot the guy looks of disgust as he continues to speak, mouth full of food.

"After all, it's only three weeks into the beginning of the year right? Usually they wait until a months up so they can calculate scores from battles and stuff."

Gilbert frowns, "Yeah but they need to finish the inspection results too- those count just as much."

"True." Howard nods.

Alfred takes a sip of his soda, trying to come to terms with the fact that it's only been three weeks since year twelve at JYP institute started. After all, so much has happened within the space of those years.

Since they can't really go home during what would normally be summer break before a new year started, they just stayed at school, some choosing the option to go to summer camp with the institute. JYP has a large housing of cabins in the countryside somewhere South by the sea where students spend their summer training and bettering their powers without the confines of school.

Every year a month into school they're organised into selective groups based on their power levels, decided by both the battles and the inspection results that measure both ability and strength of power. After that they spend the year training in that group, learning to control their abilities, increase them, learn to cope with them.
Last year Alfred was placed in Dangerous Abilities, and of course so was Arthur. It's pretty much what he's expecting this year too, having been placed in the same category every year since he'd been here.

It's only a few days until inspection results, and he finds himself getting a little nervous for some reason. He feels like this year his results will be different. They're monitored closely, inspections every few months but he's noticed something different about himself lately, a kind of strength in his ability that wasn't there before.

He's not sure if he's happy about it.

"I just wanna get straight into training y'know?" Gilbert says, food halfway to his mouth. "I know we've gotta learn normal subjects too, but I prefer classes where I actually get to use my powers actively."

Nathan nods, serious expression on his face. "I totally understand why the Institutes number one rule is not to use powers outside of class, but still. It's hard not to use my power when I want to."

"Dude you're clumsy as fuck anyway, the only damage you could do to anyone would be accidental." Howard snickers and Nathan glares at his friend, pout on his face that looks completely ridiculous.

"Your death tonight won't be."

"I'm so very scared. Sam senpai, please hold me." Howard leans into Sam who in turn shoves him away, the elder already looking half asleep.

"Fuck off, nitwit."

Gilbert laughs and Alfred can't help grinning, shaking his head as Howard pouts and pretends to fake cry, to which Sam pulls a disgusted face and moves to stand up.

"Where are you going?" Nathan asks, brows raised.

"Away from you sad, sad creeps." Sam glares, slinging his backpack on.

Alfred just watches, amused as the others burst into laughter.

Alfred rolls his eyes at his friends and moves his gaze around then freezes when his eyes land on Allister and Arthur's other friend Matthew sitting a little further down from them.
Both boy's expressions are stony, both looking worried as they talk quietly among themselves, and just like that the slight happiness Alfred had momentarily felt dissipates, his thoughts returning to the boy lying in the infirmary bed upstairs.

He sighs, looking down at his lap. This is ridiculous. I'm ridiculous.

It's raining lightly when he makes his way out onto the balcony outside of the astronomy tower.

He nearly slips on the slick metal of the steps, grabbing the railing just in time to save himself before pulling his hood tighter around his head and climbing the rest of the way, gaze settled on the sky.

He settles down under a small roof bit, dry and clear of rain. It's cold out, miserable weather really but Alfred's always loved the rain and the calm it brought with it, even when it brought a storm.

He lays back, hands propped behind his head as he breathes in fresh air. He can't help but wonder just how long the peace will last when it's already crumbling.
There were news stories again today about human militants attacking unarmed teens with abilities. Two had died. Unnecessary and disgusting deaths that never should have happened.
How long does he have until he's being targeted too?

He doesn't usually venture out onto the balcony this time of the week and he can't help but wonder if these are the days Arthur visits. It's almost funny that they'd both been visiting the tower for ten years, though never ran into each other. He's never seen another soul up here, though something tells him the only other person brave enough to visit is Arthur.

Both him and Arthur have escaped to see the same view for the past ten years, both sharing a secret neither of them knew about.
Somehow...that's amazing.

Pretty amazing.

Before he finds his way back to his dorm that night, he makes a detour towards the infirmary. There are Officials everywhere, guns tucked into their pockets and tasers in hand as they talk quietly to one another or stare off into space. He slinks past them all successfully, pulse racing as he slides open the door and looks through the window leading into the infirmary.

Every patient is asleep, curtains pulled around their beds so Alfred can't see them.

Though he can see Arthur from here, the other boy being the closest to the window. His eyes are closed, arms by his side. He looks peaceful, kinda cute actually.
Wait- what?
He doesn't look cute.
Not at all...
Ugh.

Alfred shakes his head and lets a breath out, ignoring the tight feeling in his heart. It's back again and quite frankly it's pissing him off.

He wonders when they'll let Arthur out, if he'll feel okay and something in his stomach flips, something he can't explain.

"I'm sorry..." He murmurs, voice soft as he rests a palm against the cold round glass of the window. Maybe he'll manage to gather the courage to apologize to Arthur face to face, but until then this is all he can do.

He makes his way back to his room quietly, heart beating a little faster than before as he replays the serene look on Arthur's face over and over in his mind.

NOTE: Original story by LauraJade on AsianFanfics.

Original chapter link: story/view/974578/8/the-world-in-our-hands-but-all-i-want-is-you-markjin