Chapter 12
In two days time, Alfred had finished Elizaveta's fence and porch. Unfortunately for him, Kiku had left as well, leaving Arthur and him alone to finish planing out the wedding. The younger man could have claimed plenty of work to do, but in reality, his employees had it all covered. Then what kind of friend and best man would he be if he left Arthur hanging, especially with two months to go.
"Dude, why'd you wait so long to do all this?" Alfred asked as Arthur opened the door.
"Well good morning to you as well, Alfred," the Englishman scoffed. "You look good in street clothing as well I see. It's nice change from your usual work clothes." He nodded to himself as he took in Alfred's plain dark jean shorts and form fitting black T-shirt. "Then again, you're usually half naked when working outside. I can't wait to see you in formal attire."
Alfred felt a blush form at the compliment and at the fact that Arthur had noticed his body. "Hahaha, you've totally been checking me out, bro!" When the smaller blond dropped his jaw and sputtered incoherently, Alfred had to restrain himself from hugging the blond. "Hahaha, oh Artie, you're so fun to tease! No worries, man; I won't tease you for the whole day we're together, but are you really going out in that?"
He pointed at the Brit's typical khakis dress pants and white polo shirt. Only Arthur could truly pull off such a look while managing to look both cute and hot with the first few buttons undone. Innocently, the man looked down at his attire. "What's wrong with this?"
"You look ridiculous," Alfred lied. "And it's like a freakin' oven out there! I've had to call the guys to remind them to drink plenty of water and take breaks often. God, good thing I'm finished with my work outside. You would've died out there if it wasn't for me being here. Now, go back and change into something fresher. I don't wanna end up carrying you and your bags back home. Go find some shorts."
Arthur fidgeted adorably as he looked away from his best man. "Eh, I-uh-don't have have any."
Alfred had just plopped onto Arthur's comfortable couch therefore looked up at him unbelievingly. "What? Nuh uh. You lie." Damnit Arthur! Stop fidgeting! You have no idea what you're doing to me!
Caught in the lie, the emerald eyed man deflated. "Well I do, but-"
Impatient, the other man jumped up and led the owner of the house towards his room. "Trust me Artie, the cooler the better. You can't give me crap like: 'it's not my gentlemanly style' or 'it's no that bad outside, I can handle it.' Uh, trust me dude, no you can't. We maybe inside cool shops, but we'll be store hopping therefore just as long outside as inside. In you go, no excuses; change or else we're not going anywhere."
"Yes, Alfred." Arthur grumbled before he yelled, "It's Arthur you dolt!" Once alone in his room, he reluctantly changed into the shorts his fiancée had gotten him a while back. A few seconds later and a pair of shorts and sandals on, he had gathered enough courage to walk outside. "Uh, Alfred? I really do think I should just leave my trousers on. These don't really fit."
Alfred turned around to find Arthur dressed in short white shorts that ended halfway on his thighs and very, very enticing. The complete white outfit complimented his skin nicely, making him appear less pasty, but highlighted his blush even more. Alfred wanted to slap Arthur's hands as they attempted to lower the shorts to cover himself even more.
God, they're perfect! Stop trying to pull them down or I'll help you with that by tearing them!
His wolf-whistle managed to stop Arthur from tugging at his shorts, but only because he needed those hands to punch Alfred. Laughing, he was able to block most of the author's fists, but few made their mark, none doing any damage.
"I-I'm going to change back," Arthur stopped abruptly and turned to leave.
Unfortunately for him and his pride, the strong carpenter wouldn't allow it. To injure his pride even more, Al had lifted the man onto his shoulder like a sack of potatoes. The smaller man had always known he was fairly light and petite compared to other men, but he had never been lifted by another before, well maybe his older brothers had. "Alfred! Let me go!"
"Okay." He shrugged and pretend to drop him, causing Arthur to yelp and wrap his arms around his neck.
"Alfred!"
"Hahaha! You said to let you go." He grinned at the man now in his arms, in a princess lift. His bare legs on his forearms. After realizing the skin contact, Alfred gulped and shakily said, "Imma put you down a-and we'll walk to ma truck."
"Nn," Arthur shook his head, "my car."
The holder nodded and set the squirming man down. However, like he predicted, Arthur attempted to make a dash for his room. Yet in a few quick, large steps, Alfred had the man on his shoulders again. "Man, Artie, you're too easy to kidnap." The idea really shouldn't have given him so much pleasure, but Alfred couldn't stop his imagination run with it.
They'd run away together, anywhere. Arthur could write wherever he wished and Alfred could start up another business; after all, he had done it before, he could do it again. All that mattered to him was that they'd be happy together and away from anything that could take them apart.
Alfred would distract Arthur from ever thinking about Michelle ever again. He'll show him New York City, Los Angeles, Austin, Detroit, Las Vegas, Washington D.C., Disneyland, or Disney World, whichever as long as it's to his liking. They'll live in a big city or a quaint town like this one, in any state whether in Washington, Arizona, Wyoming, Minnesota, Oklahoma, Indiana, Georgia, Pennsylvania, Maine, or any of the other forty-one states he chooses. Alfred couldn't care less and wouldn't even mind going back to England with him or anywhere else in the world. Like the saying goes, he'd follow that man to the depths of hell and back if he could.
Together they'd raise a family. Alfred could imagine Arthur with their adopted children, teaching, playing, and reading his stories to them. They'd have dinner together and sleep in the same bed then wake up in each other's arms. Arthur would make a great parent and husband.
Their life would be perfect, topped off with the perfect wedding of Arthur's dream.
"Quit parading me as if I'm the bride!" Arthur growled, crushing Alfred's little fantasy with a simple command.
Oh yeah, he's already getting his perfect wedding, Alfred thought broken heartedly.
"Set me down before you open the door!"
A fake, hollow laugh escaped Alfred. "Ha, Ha, yeah sure. Just as long as you don't try to escape again. Don't tell me you're already getting cold feet."
"As if," Arthur responded distractedly. "Alfred, are you alright? You sound different." He looked up at his best man and friend with quizzical, emerald eyes.
"Eh, of course. I," the American racked his brain, "I'm just reluctant to go back into the heat again."
Skeptical, Arthur frowned at him and opened the door once he was released. "Come now, it can't be that- Bloody hell! It's an inferno out there." He had barely taken a few steps out when he walked back into the air conditioned home. "The difference is incredible! How did you even make it here? How the bloody hell did I not notice this?"
"A hero always makes it! You're just an unobservant author." He winked at his fantasy lover and noticed his blush, but dismissed it as the heat outside affecting him. Alfred was beginning to become annoyed at all the hope he carried. I'm his best man, damnit, and I should act like it! Instead of trying to win him over, I have to encourage him and prepare him for the big day. In about two and a half months, ten weeks, seventy-one days... Arthur would be a married man.
~12~
The first stop was at the craft shop. They had the elaborate invitations ready, revealing the color scheme and theme for Alfred.
Most of the invitations were of a picturesque image of a white sandy beach with the ocean mixture of green and blue extending far into the horizon. A few however, were on weathered beige paper in a glass bottle filled with white sand as well, as if it was a message in a bottle washed ashore.
"Only a few of our close friends will receive those," Arthur nodded at the beautiful bottle in Alfred's hand. "We'll need to personally deliver them due to packaging fees, but it's not a problem. The one's who'll receive those are within driving distance and consist of mostly you, your brother, my neighbors, my co-workers at the station, and a few others. So what do you think?"
Alfred removed the cork and slid the invitation out without dumping any white sand in it. Surprisingly, he had picked up his own invitation.
My esteemed Best Man, Alfred F. Jones, and Guest,
With love as deep and clear as the ocean blue,
We have chosen the day to sail away,
And hope to see our close family and friends like you,
At our anticipated wedding day.
Michelle Angelique
and
Arthur Kirkland
The blue eyed blond was beginning to question why he was even doing this. He was self-inflicting all of this pain by just being close to the man! That first sentence had ripped his heart even more, tossing away any hope remaining in him. Those tears he had supposedly locked away had escaped in a microsecond. Snot began to run with those tears, his legs and arms grew weak, and his head was spinning. All of his defenses shot down.
"Alfred! What's wrong?" The cause for such pain appeared right beside him, setting his hand on Alfred's bicep. "Have you fallen ill? Is the heat affecting you? Oh God, don't faint on me Alfred, I'm not the a big oaf like you and wouldn't be able to carry you. Well I probably could for a few seconds, but... love, are you okay? Tell me what's wrong."
When Arthur called him love, Alfred couldn't stop himself. He swooped the man into his arms and cried on his shoulder. I love you man, but I'll let you love somebody else. I won't ruin your perfect wedding. I'll tell you what's wrong with me, but not for a few more years from now. I hope you don't mind that when you come back from your h-honeymoon, I'd have moved away.
"Nah, man," Alfred sniffled, tears reduced with his new resolve. "This is just so... adorably romantic! It's so sweet and full of love I-I just can feel the love between you two, and I don't even know this Michelle chick. I bet she was the one who wrote this huh?"
The smaller man blushed even more than from the sudden hug. "Er... It was actually me who wrote it..."
Alfred forced out a chuckle, "Of course it would be you," and hugged him even harder then released him. "Sorry for the sobbing mess... it, uh, was really touching. Er, I hope to find someone I love so much as you love Michelle again."
"Again?"
Damnit.
"Hahaha, long story man," Alfred was almost back to looking normal as he slapped Arthur's back. "I'll tell you some other time maybe, but now we gotta get going! What's next on the list?"
Unsatisfied and slightly shaken by his best man's moods, Arthur thought then looked at his watch. "We don't have our suit fittings for a few more hours. Should we go back and get lunch?"
"Alright! Lunch time!" Alfred took the box of invitations while Arthur finished paying for them. "Where's the fitting?"
"Downtown," Arthur opened the door for his friend. "Just a few blocks from this peculiar sort of place named Odd Jobs Jones. Ever heard of it chap? They're really useful at fixing all sorts of things from what I hear. What I do know is that this great carpenter worked wonders on my rotting porch." He teased and grinned when he saw Alfred's cerulean eyes sparkle at the compliment.
"Yeah! I think I have heard of it! The boss of the place is a mighty handsome man!" The entrepreneur boasted and laughed.
"You git," the to-be-groom laughed along.
"Let's go to Downtown Diner instead then! It's closer and you won't have to cook!"
~12~
After lunch, the two men went to Bespoke Attire, a little tailor shop that catered to anyone's clothing needs. It was run by a Chinese man named Yao Wang who preferred to make female clothing and was often confused for one due to his small body frame and long black hair. His male assistant hit on him constantly enough to confuse the customers even more, enforcing their view of the feminine man. Im Young Soo, however, was not as talented as his sensei.
Yao had such an affinity for the needle and thread that it left his customers in awe. He could create one's dream outfit, suit, dress, or even costume in a matter of days. Yao's latest order actually came from an impressed Kiku a day before he left. The two Asians had hit it off with a fascination with cosplay.
Now Arthur required his skills for their tuxes.
The chimes rang the second Arthur had opened the door and walked in. An older teen greeted them without any emotion until he recognized the smaller blond.
"Ge ge wasn't lying," he muttered to himself, but the older men heard him. The boy jumped off the stool he was perched on and ran to find his older brother, Yao. When he came back with the tailor and his assistant, Alfred noticed he also brought along a familiar looking book in his arms, but unfortunately, Arthur didn't see it.
The Chinese man knew what they had come for and ushered them to the back of the shop, leaving the teen alone with his book.
"Im, measure Alfred while I work with Mr. Kirkland," Yao tossed him a measuring tape. "Neither of you mind undressing while in each other's presence, correct?"
"Not at all."
"Nope," Alfred gulped.
With satisfactory answers, the two men set to work. Their shirts came off, but fortunately for Alfred, Arthur had an undershirt. He also noticed that Mr. Wang didn't touch Arthur and only hovered around him, jotting down notes after a measurement. Im Young Soo, a young adult not much older than Yao's brother, was not as experience at the older man and touched Alfred profusely. Regrettably, it wasn't long before the younger man being fitted was giggling. He apologized and attempted to keep a straight face, but whenever Im's hands or hair curl touched him, Alfred couldn't restrain himself.
"Alfred!" Arthur barked.
"HAHAHA! I can't help it! I'm super ticklish!"
"Stop!" Im wrapped his arms around Alfred from behind. "Or else I'll claim your breasts as mine!"
"HAHAHA! What? HAHAHA!"
Yao sighed and backed away from Arthur to slap Im's hands away. "You work with Mr. Kirkland," he turned towards his client, "if you don't mind."
"It's fine," Arthur shrugged, but became amused my his friend and best man's new discovery.
The younger tailor sulked his way over to Arthur and requested him to remove the undershirt was well. When he finished with what his mentor left off on, he began to work on the man's lower half of the body. "Take off your pants now, please."
"M-m-my pants?" His green eyes were filled with panic as they darted between the other three men in the room. Alfred was already in his boxers, looking quizzically (or excitedly) towards him, but wasn't required to remove them. Why must his go? "There's n-no real need for it, is there?"
Once again, the Chinese sighed and rolled his eyes this time, "He means your trousers, not your underwear. Are you wearing boxers or briefs? Because if you have boxers on, it'll be more difficult for him, but we can give you a clean pair of briefs, unless you don't mine..."
"Ihavethem!" Arthur stopped Yao from continuing that sentence. He attempted to steady himself, but his hands still shook as he tried to undo his belt.
Impatient, Im reached for the belt as well, but Alfred jealously yelled. "Hey! Let Artie have his pride, he can undo it himself."
Arthur's smile that he threw at him was a mix of thanks and one of I-think-I'm-going-to-faint-from-embarrassment.
He smiled back, but it wasn't full of his typical confidence. Oh God, do I look away? Do I continue looking out for him? That assistant looks kinda iffy and isn't ask skilled as Yao here so he touches... He better not touch my Arthur! Ah jeez, I though my! He's not mine, he'll never be- Ach! He's got his belt and button! Look away man! Look away! Wait this might be a once in a life time opportunity! No! This isn't right! What if I start-
Suddenly, Yao sprang up and tossed Alfred his pants and giving him a look. "You're done boy. Im, let me finish with Mr. Kirkland."
The assistant didn't argue, but he did pout.
"Go show Alfred the different styles we have," he continued.
Arthur looked relieved as he watched Alfred hop around as he put on his pants and grab his T-shirt as he followed the younger Asian. Both of their faces were overheating.
The author couldn't believe how much and how long he had stared at his friend discreetly while in such a state of undress. It was difficult doing so, seeing as Alfred was looking at his direction just as often, but that was probably due to the fact that he was making sure Im didn't do anything.
No, Alfred's not a perv like me, Arthur thought to himself. He's just looking out for me. God, I can't believe I just kept ogling! It was almost as if the secret of youth was written all over his tanned, toned body. I guess you would look young for a long time if you worked out like him... but he was perfect! Oh bollocks, I was so I self-conscious! But how could I not be? Every curve and dip was perfectly chiseled. The exact image of what romance novels claim Adonis would look like. Women must think of him as a sex god!
"Finished," his trousers were tossed at him as well. Yao face was a mixture of annoyance and amusement, but Arthur could not tell why.
Yay! Two or Three more chapters until the grand wedding and ending! Sadly, I'm not sure how fast I'll update... I don't have those care-free summers anymore and must go to work and do chores and unpack and a bunch of other boring stuff... But I will finish before my new semester and continue my other stories! :D I'm going to take one down and rewrite it however, but I'm not sure which to work on the most... Well thanks for reading!
*Ge Ge- big brother (so Google says, je ne sais pas.)
Thanks NanaMii148 for your idea, there's still more of it to come! :)
