Phantom Of The Arcade
Alfred had just graduated medical school. He was a doctor, he was going to stay in Hearth permanently, and everything was about to be awesome.
"Stop stealing my catchphrase!" Gilbert caught him in a headlock.
"It's not yours, I can say I'm as awesome as I want!" Alfred protested, wiggling out.
"Ve need beer to celebrate!" Gilbert changed the subject. Alfred was patting off the front of his shirt when he paused.
"Ah... no."
"Vhat?"
"Beer and celebration is a bad combo. That usually implies over-consumption and is unhealthy–"
"You are definitely not awesome," Gilbert pointed at him, frowning.
"Get out of my house!" Ludwig shouted at them.
Alfred immediately found himself in a group all by himself: someone who did not want to drink in excess. It struck him immediately that Hearth was full of alcoholics.
Every. Single. Person.
"Alfred-san, what are you doing in my pantry?" He shuffled about, knowing he would not get an answer if he actually said what he was doing. "iLudovicus, what is Alfred doing in my pantry?"
"Looking for alcohol, I believe."
"Alfred! Why on earth would you–" Kiku began, pulling at Alfred's arm. The game up, Alfred let Kiku pull him out of the pantry.
"Do you drink, Kiku?" he asked. Kiku stared.
"Why are you–"
"Yes or no, do you drink?"
Kiku hesitated, then nodded. "On occasion, I do like... w-why do you look so disappointed?"
"That better be on rare occasions," Alfred pouted. "Like, really rare."
After continuing to stare at him for a little longer, Kiku let go of his arm and took a step back, as if considering him. "What is this about, Alfred?"
"Every single adult in Hearth is an alcoholic!"
"Alfred, you are an adult."
"Why–" Alfred cut himself off. "Why yes. Yes I am. But I'm not an alcoholic. Alcohol is only good in moderation. I don't know why I never realized how much people drink here!"
"I always assumed it was a by product of living in such a small town away from civilization," Kiku admitted. Alfred tried not to laugh at that, but failed miserably. He covered his mouth as he snickered, watching as Kiku's eyes narrowed. He was rather adorable (if not subtly irritated) when he did that.
Alfred quickly pushed that thought aside. "Show me how much you drink."
That did not appear to improve Kiku's mood. "...excuse me, Alfred?"
"On your occasion, I want to see how much you drink!" Alfred announced. "Please humour me! You're my friend and now I'm worried!"
For a moment, Alfred did not think Kiku would do it. So he thought of a deal breaker.
"Then I'll unlock the arcade~"
It had been a while. And ever since Vash came to Hearth, Alfred did not have to worry about anyone breaking into that particular building. So Kiku would not have been there since the last time Alfred had let him. And that had been a while.
Kiku struggled with the decision for a while. Alfred left and made himself a sandwich.
"Wow, those cups are really small."
Kiku smiled. "I told you I did not drink much." If that was how Alfred was thinking about this, Kiku really would not have to worry about it. He was not going to drink much in the first place, being inebriated around Alfred would probably be a bad idea. But if Alfred did not know how potent sake was, then oh well.
To make certain that Alfred would not forget about his promise to open the arcade (and that Kiku after drinking would not just be relieved at Alfred dropping the subject and forgetting about it himself), they were already there. Kiku had judged he would have two or three cups and just turn in then so they could play some games.
Alfred would be happy, Kiku would be happy, and most importantly Alfred would no longer have an excuse to worry (at him, at least) about alcohol.
Maybe a majority did drink here? So? Kiku did not see the problem with it Alfred did. Then again, Alfred had spent several years getting told how everything could kill him, likely. Kiku already knew everything could kill him. He just assumed it. It was part of his job. No point in freaking out about death, he had too many other things to freak out about.
"Sake taste different then beers and wine... how?"
"Ah... it would be difficult to describe. Take a taste."
Alfred did not seem to have a problem with having a little sip of it, although he did not seem to like it much. "Okay, I can tell the difference." Kiku smiled, finishing his cup and trying not to think of it as an indirect kiss.
Oh. It was, was it not? Kiku downed the next one to forget about that. Three cups later and they had abandoned the alcohol to play Mortal Kombat.
"You could've had me there!"
"I am playing nice."
"Hey!"
Kiku covered a laugh, as Alfred no longer looked quite as pleased to have won. "Again?" he quested, as if Alfred needed the rematch to make up for Kiku's words. Which he probably did. Alfred was strange like that.
"DDR," Alfred said immediately. Kiku brightened immediately. As Yong Soo was nowhere around, they both had a pretty good shot at winning this game. He had no idea why he had been so reluctant to play it in the first place.
"I programmed some new songs," Kiku said excitedly, rushing over to where he had set his laptop when they had arrived.
"Thriller? Tell me you did Thriller! Kiku, you promised me you'd do Thriller~" Alfred pestered him. Kiku nearly jumped out of his skin when Alfred grabbed him from behind, engulfing him in a hug.
When had he gotten so big? Kiku could remember when he could pick Alfred up. If he had bothered. That had only happened on the rare occasion. When he needed Alfred to leave and he had managed to catch up with the child in order to evict him.
Kiku tried to shake the heat from his face. "Yes I did, Alfred-san. Please..." Kiku shifted out of his grip as he went over to the platform to connect his program. Alfred was looking over his shoulder again.
"Oh wow! Did you really?"
Kiku sighed. "I just said I did, Alfred. Would you please–"
"No!" Alfred shook his head, pointing at the screen. Kiku tried to tell what he was pointing at but could not quite tell because Alfred's finger was in the way. "That one! You are awesome Kiku!"
Kiku peered at the screen, but got the idea when Alfred burst into the first phrase.
"In sleep he sang to me... In dreams he came~"
Kiku balked at the utter shamelessness Alfred could sing without any music. Not that he was bad or anything (for Alfred, Kiku always found himself surprised), but Kiku could never manage that. Not without karaoke.
"That voice which calls to me, and speaks my name~ Oh, come on Kiku. Join me!"
"I–I do not think so," Kiku shook his head.
He kept shaking it, hoping Alfred would catch on, but as usual Alfred seemed to miss it. Or ignore it. Alfred kept going. Kiku could not help but giggle.
"Sing once again with me..."
"There you go Kiku!"
Which was when they heard a crash. Kiku nearly jumped out of his skin, clutching at his chest. Alfred glanced about with concern, but who was the cause of the noise was obvious as Natalia ran past them and out the front door.
The both of them stared.
"When'd she get in?" Alfred asked.
Kiku had no idea, but when he pressed play on his laptop and the game started up, Alfred seemed to mostly forget about Natalia's entrance.
I think I am in love with this lunatic.
It certainly would explain why Kiku was preferring to spend time with him rather than go and fix a problem. Or maybe that was the alcohol. Was he not a little old for this? Erm... old for Alfred?
I am not certain. Does that even matter here?
Kiku was plenty happy leaving those thoughts for another time and continue to play their games right now.
Notes:
Definitely were not expecting that, were you? I thought not.
What is with Alfred being in people's houses that do not want him there? Good question.
Being slightly inebriated certainly helps convince one to start singing at random times. So I hear. I have no personal experience on the matter. Oh well.
Why was Natalia there? Good question, probably to be brought up at a later date. And if you are confused (which you should be), the answer will be in chapter thirteen of 'All's Fine That Ends Okay'. Promise
Next chapter will be the Bad Friends Trio's letters. For the next one-shots, I have a new poll up again. There are some new options which I came up with, so some fresh ideas for everyone to pick their poison from. Have fun voting!