SCW: Have you ever had your wisdom teeth removed? How about all four… did you feel the urge to write up a storm until your hand fell off and your fingers went numb? No. neither did I yes I realize that there are plenty of people who have had their wisdom's removed, they should know what it's like. I couldn't write anything… I ended up playing dissidia off the yin yang. But I finally finished 10 to a satisfactory level so here we go.
Ariana: she wouldn't stop moaning and groaning about how annoying it was…though the nearby store has run out of pudding… oh by the way some of your reviews made SCW laugh so hard she couldn't breathe for all of 15 seconds…thank everything for her singer's lungs.
SCW: and I had to worry about cabaret so it hasn't been fun…oh well no more whining! Time to read!
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Chapter 10: You See.
The lamplight clicked on and Arthur rolled over.
"What? What brought this up?" Arthur looked genuinely curious and confused. Alfred's face grew red.
"What do you think of me?" his voice sounded quieter.
"In general? My opinion of you?" Alfred nodded. Sinking a bit into the mattress. Arthur looked at the ceiling in thought.
"I think…you're brash, running into things without much, if any, thought. You have the largest ego I have seen in a while. You also have the strangest habit of calling yourself a hero every other hour." Arthur paused. Alfred winced, so far so bad.
"You mean well though. You seem trustworthy, not quick to abandon anyone and honest. A rare trait these days. I suppose I don't mind you're company all that much. There's never a boring day when you're around that's for certain." Arthur turned back on his side. He seemed a little red, oh wait, that was just a blush. Alfred grinned so wide his face would have hurt if he had them.
"So I'm not making your job harder?"
" No. I suppose not. Now belt up I'm tired." Arthur clicked off the light and tried to burrow into the blanket. Alfred let him, too happy to care. So Arthur thought he wasn't useless! Alfred was doing his, as Arthur put it, childish git dance. It was his happy dance really. But he didn't want Arthur to change his mind so he did it in his head.
!~!NEXT DAY!~!
Arthur had gotten used to leaving the bathroom to the smell of his shampoo (rain) and breakfast. He got dressed quickly and headed upstairs. It was rather nice to be able to wake up to such pleasant things. On many occasions Arthur had woken up with Alfred curled around him. Not touching but still acting as a shield. Though his sleep muddled brain never really noticed until the shower fully woke him up. He felt comforted by it. Though he didn't know what to make of the fluttery feelings in his stomach. They only seemed to plague him when he saw Alfred's peaceful expression. It was quite frustrating really. How was he supposed to do his job if his invisible partner…Arthur frowned. Since when had Alfred become his partner? He groaned and made his way to the kitchen. The American greeted his as usual and helped him make his precious tea. Arthur had taught the git to never mess with his tea after a certain incident about one week ago. He silently thanked anything that cared that Alfred was afraid of Ariana. Alfred set his breakfast down and watched him eat. Slightly unnerving to be honest. Arthur couldn't help but worry. What if he accidentally spilled his tea or something silly like that.
Since when did he care about what he did in front of Alfred? Arthur could have slammed his head down on the table.
"Hey Artie, you feelin' okay?" Arthur flinched in surprise and nodded. Alfred frowned, disbelief clear in his eyes.
"You look pale…well, paler than usual. Maybe you should stay home today." Arthur swallowed his tea and shook his head.
"I have never taken a sick day. Not for five years. I'd like to keep that record thank-" a phone being shoved in his hand stopped him.
"Oh come on, I'm pretty sure no one will mind if you skip one day." Alfred didn't let Arthur's hand go. Making sure Arthur never put the phone down.
"Who will keep Ariana out of trouble?"He was starting to break. A day sitting at home drinking tea and relaxing sounded wonderful.
"Celestina will."
"Are you kidding me? The two are partners in mischief. Celestina would help Ariana."
"Please Artie!" Arthur hesitated. Then sighed and dialed in Celestina's desk phone number. It rung once before someone picked it up. He didn't expect to hear Ariana.
"What are you doing with Celestina's phone?"
"She's busy plotting Derek's painful death…what? No, he 'd probably break the iron maiden. Stupid steroids bastard." Arthur sighed.
"Tell Celestina I'm calling in sick."
"Are you sick or do you just want to stay home. For once." Arthur didn't answer. Leave it to Ariana to call him out on it. He forgot that when Ariana was alive she had had two children. Nothing could prepare you better for the real world than children. She could tell when someone was lying just after knowing them for four months.
"It's the second one isn't it… alright! Tina, 'ey Tina! Put the machete's away and get the piranha tank!" they heard a happy cheer on the other end of the phone. Arthur rolled his eyes and said thanks before hanging up.
"Piranha tank?"
"Don't ask." Arthur set the phone down and went back downstairs to get back into his favorite cotton pyjama's. today was more about relaxation than anything. What was more comfortable than sleep wear! When Arthur came back upstairs he found Alfred sitting on the couch just turning on the TV. Arthur took care of the dishes left from breakfast and got out his three fourth's of the way done embroidery. He grabbed another new cloth just in case he finished with the first.
After some time he had finished. He paused, not knowing what to put on it. After listening to Alfred laugh at whatever happened he got an idea.
"Alfred." The ghost instantly focused on him.
"What did you say your full name was again?" Alfred looked confused.
"Alfred F. Jones. Why?"
"No reason." Arthur set the new cloth up and started moving the needle. Tracing out a pattern. As if getting a feel as to what he was going to do. Then he grabbed the blue, red, and white threads. Then, he got to work. Alfred lost interest and focused once more on the show.
Arthur lost all sense of time and place as soon as his threaded needle pressed into the cloth. His hand started moving on auto pilot. Taking what Arthur had traced out and bringing it to life. He hadn't even realized it was past lunch time until his stomach growled. He blinked and reality settled back in. the blank look in his eyes faded back into the usual gleam. Alfred looked at him with a grin. Arthur snapped the finished cloth over the other one. Hiding the design from bright blue eyes. Alfred frowned.
"So, what are you working on now?" he asked trying to lift the white cloth. Arthur pulled it and his legs to his chest, shielding it.
"Nothing you should worry about." Alfred pouted.
"Anyway it's time for lunch." Arthur stood. He hurriedly placed the embroidery away. Then darted to the kitchen, Alfred close behind. The American was grinning widely, plotting how to get his officer to tell him. A few idea's popped up in his mind but they weren't exactly…PG.
Alfred, after much fussing, cooked up lunch. Arthur ate quickly eager to get back to his embroidery. He did the dishes then went straight back to the waiting fabric. Alfred watched in amusement. He thought it was pretty funny to see the normally calm Englishman so flustered. Alfred floated back into the living room and focused once more on the TV.
It remained quiet for quite some time, until, an hour late. Someone knocked on the door. It opened to Celestina's voice.
"Arthur! Frank sent us to check up on you!" she called out. Arthur told her he was in the living room. She appeared a moment later. Her uniform seemed a little wet. Ariana, who was always seen with her partner, wasn't there.
"Where's Ariana?" Arthur asked covering and putting away his embroidery.
"Oh, the piranha's got a little frisky so she had to go into the tank to calm them down. Let's just say it's a good thing she's dead."
!~!INTERMISSION!~!
Yes, Celestina knows Ariana's dead. Other than Arthur and Alfred though no one else does.
No, Tina knows nothing about Alfred. Just that Arthur can see things other's can't.
!~!END!~!
Ariana came in a few moments later dusting off her uniform.
"Thank everything for spare uniforms." She sighed leaning against the wall.
"Did she say piranha's?" Alfred looked shocked, Ariana rolled her eyes.
"Yes, we do have a piranha tank, yes they have been trained to eat Derek on sight." She responded as if everyone knew that.
"Though we had to get him a new hat." Celestina smiled. Arthur sighed and rubbed his temples. Mumbling something about messed up co-workers. Alfred grinned. He decided that anyone that guarded Arthur like they did was cool in his book. Arthur stood.
"Why did frank send you to check up on me?"
"Oh! He was "worried" about you…well him and a third of the police force. Maybe more, we didn't ask." Ariana shrugged and Celestina nodded happily.
"Sooo….will I get to see the piranha's?" Alfred stood as well, excitement rolling off him.
"Would you stop with the piranha's!" Alfred pouted. Ariana sat down on the floor and started wringing her hair. A small puddle began to form underneath it. Obviously her hair did not enjoy being wet. Celestina slapped her on the back of her head.
"Stop making a mess!" she scolded. Ariana pouted and let go of the thick black locks.
"Hey, my hair never had time to dry. Frank sent us off too quickly." She whined. Celestina sighed. Alfred floated off to get a towel while Arthur sat back down. Alfred in a usual show of childishness decided to surprise Ariana. He made sure he was behind her then popped up. She yelped and grabbed his arm before she threw him over her shoulder. He squeaked and flew through the air, right at Arthur. The towel floated down harmlessly as Alfred crashed through Arthur. Key word being through. Arthur only felt a cool rush of air before black enveloped his vision. As Alfred fell into the wall behind the couch, Arthur fell to the side, unconscious. Celestina stared at him confused. Ariana cursed and yanked the fluffy cloth off her face. She cursed again and stood, rushing over to Arthur.
"Alfred you bastard!" she cursed out, trying to make sure Arthur was just unconscious. Alfred stumbled back into the room holding his shoulder.
"You didn't have to throw me-Holy crap Arthur!" all pain was immediately gone from Alfred's body. Swept away by a wave of worry and numbness. His entire body hummed with shock…and, a strange sense of power. He frowned and reached over to touch Arthur's arm. Ariana slapped it away.
"What happened?" Celestina asked. She was kind of miffed that she couldn't see what was going on…
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SCW: yes yes another cliff hanger. But 11 is already in the works. Hey just be glad that I actually update at a reasonable time. With some of my favorite stories I've been waiting for over two months! I swear I will never do that to any of you!
Ariana: we'll make sure she doesn't! by the way, thanks for all the reviews despite her flaky updating. It's really nice of you.
Celestina: don't get sentimental, though I will admit, we haven't seen one flame yet in any of her stories, that's just amazing.
SCW: I feel lucky to have such nice reviewers. Though now that we brought it up you all know someone is gonna take that as a challenge and just flame the crap out of this…or one of the others… by the way don't worry. Unlike some writers I won't go all crazy when I do get one, if I ever do. I'll just power through and laugh at their sad attempt to bring me down. Then flay them with a spork… well any who, next chapter should be up within the week! Thanks again for being so kind to me despite my sad attempts of updating.