Silence reigned for the next few minutes, the only sound came from Matthew, fiercely shouting for Alfred to tell him what had happened. Alfred helped Kat up from the ground and, with Matthew's help, took her inside.

"Are you okay?" Alfred said, sitting on the couch next to her.

The TV was turned off now and the lights turned on. Alfred had sent Matthew away to make coffee, which he had protested against loudly until Alfred reminded him that he was doing it for Kat. He ran off very quickly after that.

"Yes…" she whispered, her voice sounding as if she were some place else.

Alfred felt terrible and conflicted. He had left Kat outside all alone and let her be attacked. He was so angry, so very angry, at Arthur. But, at the same time, he couldn't help but think that he was missing something, something important. He was so confused. Alfred hadn't noticed his head was in his hands until he heard Kat speak again.

"I'm sorry, I didn't hear that."

"I said, are you okay? You seem sad."

Alfred twitched. Had he really looked like that?

"Yes, I'm completely fine!" he exclaimed. Worry now set in. Kat had seen Arthur and no doubt she would have questions. "Um…well, in regards to what happened earlier, I want to expla-"

He was shushed by Kat's voice.

"You don't have to."

"Huh?"

"It was a blur for me anyway… and I would prefer not to relive it."

"Oh." Did Kat not know what happened? Alfred decided to let it be, seeing as he didn't want to go back to Arthur again and ask him to make Kat forget as well. The short conversation ended as Matthew walked in with Kat's coffee, a set of designer clothes on.

Alfred drove Kat home later, after he was sure that she had suffered no prominent physical or mental damage. There were no obvious issues, though Alfred couldn't say anything about deep mental scarring.

As Kat exited the car, she even gave Alfred a shaky smile,

"I really did have a nice evening… thank you for looking after me so well."

Alfred returned home and flopped onto his bed, completely exhausted. So many thoughts and feelings had been running circles in his head that he was overloaded. None of those emotions were good. Blissfully, he passed out quickly and prevented any more conscious thoughts from popping into his head. Sadly, this didn't stop him dreaming.

Two weeks later…

Beep, beep, beep. Beep, beep, beep. The alarm-clock screamed shrilly.

Alfred's hand rose and unceremoniously bashed the snooze button, causing the alarm to cease. There was a loud groan before the rest of Alfred's body moved into a sitting position on his bed. He rubbed the bags under his eyes, mumbling to himself.

"Stupid dream…"

Bang! Bang! Bang!

Alfred glared at the door, almost growling as it opened to reveal his brother, who looked too cheery for Alfred's current mood.

"Wake up, Alfie~" he sang, practically dancing into the room.

"What do you want, Matthew?" Alfred asked.

"Aw, is the little puppy angry? Oh well, be happy, because I - your dear brother - has made you a breakfast of the most excellent pancakes!" Matthew proclaimed, making the meal seem like a gift from the gods. He then danced out again, telling Alfred to come downstairs.

Alfred sighed and rubbed his temple. His mood had been progressively worsening over the past two weeks, mostly because he hadn't had any sleep since that night. Most nights, he lay awake, unable to sleep and when, by some miracle, he did manage to close his eyes, he was plagued by dreams.

Alfred got up slowly, clothing himself and walking slowly downstairs. A plate of fluffy pancakes waited for him on the table in the kitchen. Matthew was chomping through his own plate, humming happily to himself. If he had noticed Alfred's gruffness, he didn't react to it.

Alfred took his plate and started eating. Matthew's pancakes were good, in fact, they were one of the only things he could cook to any degree of skill. But even good things become mediocre with time. For the past two weeks, Alfred had refrained from cooking at all, leaving Matthew to make pancakes every morning and pancakes every night. Whenever Matthew asked him why he didn't want to cook, or about anything vaguely connected to that night, Alfred would always avoid answering, lying through his teeth or simply not responding.

After breakfast and two strong coffees, Alfred felt minutely better, though tiredness still fogged his mind and dulled his actions. On the way to work, he almost drove into a ditch on two separate occasions, causing his brother to yell at him about responsible driving. Alfred didn't retort with the fact that Matthew couldn't even drive, deciding he was too tired to argue.

Work had been quiet for a while. Alfred went about his daily business of signing forms and evaluating deals. He still sat with Kat and Ivan's group every lunch-time, making small-talk to distract himself from his raging thoughts. Ivan was much more friendly lately, disturbingly so in fact. Alfred kept finding Ivan staring at him, as if he were assessing him, multiple times. He also persisted in asking deeply personal questions like how much money he made per year and what his ambitions were within the company. Alfred answered them, confused why Ivan would need such information but not questioning it too deeply.

As the two walked into the building and towards their shared office, Matthew talking idly about a cute girl he'd started flirting with in another department (because, in his words, 'otherwise I would become as much of a virgin as you'), Kat came around the corner, and almost succeeded in crashing into Alfred. She jumped back in shock, looking up and smiling when she realized it was Alfred. She didn't seem to have noticed Alfred's bad mood either.

"Good Morning, Alfred." She sounded as peppy as normal, though Alfred noticed her hands were wrung together.

"Good morning." Alfred replied, smiling half-heartedly.

There was a moment of tense silence and then,

"Welp!" Matthew said, drawing his arms behind his neck, "I've got some paperwork that needs doing, soooo…"

Alfred turned his head towards Matthew to tell him that he was coming too. All that was left, however, was empty air. If this had been a cartoon, it would have been a flashing outline. Alfred darted his head around in confusion and saw Matthew running around the corner where Kat had first appeared.

"Your brother is certainly active." Kat commented. Alfred looked back at her.

"Yes, that's the best way to put it," he sighed. "Anyway, I suppose I should go after him."

Alfred began to walk away when he felt a hand on his sleeve. He turned back to see Kat was holding him back, head looking down at the ground.

"My brother would like to meet you," she stated.

What? Alfred thought.

"Oh," He said.

"In his office at lunch-time, he said… it's important."

Without another word, Kat let go of his sleeve and walked off. Alfred felt as if he had been struck dumb. Why did Ivan want to see him? Had he done something wrong? Had Kat told him what happened?

No, she couldn't have… she didn't know what happened anyway and even if she did, he would have done something long before now. But then, why?

The hours until lunch seemed like years as Alfred poured over his work, trying to distract himself. By the time lunch arrived, Alfred felt so nervous that even the slightest unexpected action would make him jump out of his skin. He ran out of his office, not even glancing in Matthew's direction, as he raced towards the HR department.

It didn't take long for Alfred to find Ivan's office door. The Russian's name was inscribed on a heavy bronze plate and through the translucent glass that made up part of the door, Alfred could see a large figure sitting at a desk. Alfred took a deep breath, realizing that if he was going onto Ivan's home turf, he had to be careful.

He knocked on the door once. He waited for a few moments and just as he was about to knock again he heard Ivan's muffled voice.

"Come in."

Alfred took hold of the door knob and turned it, waiting for a click before he walked in. Ivan was sitting at a mahogany desk, files and individual pieces of paper organized into very neat piles on his desk. Ivan himself was sitting down, large hands clasped together as he stared at Alfred, like a bear eagerly awaiting its next morsel.

"It is nice to see you, Mr Jones," he started, "please, sit." Ivan gestured to a chair opposite his side of the desk. Alfred cautiously approached, ribs pulsing as if to remind him of how dangerous this man was. Alfred sat and only then did Ivan continue.

"You must be curious as to why I have asked you to be here, da?" Alfred didn't respond. "Family is important, is it not?"

Alfred twitched, confused as to the sudden change of topic.

"Your answer?" Ivan asked, head tilted sideways.

"Um, yes. Yes, they are." Alfred said.

"Good, a straight answer. It is so rare that I find a man who will not, as you say, dance around the bush. Those men are deceptive, in my personal opinion. Are they not?"

"It depends." The words poured out of Alfred's mouth, the powers of confusion and exhaustion firmly holding the floodgates open. "Deception can also be used to protect."

Ivan paused, then laughed.

"Ah, that is true. Very true. I cannot remember the number of times I have had to deceive to protect my family and my friends. You are an understanding man, I see."

What is the point in this? Alfred thought, hands wringing together.

"Understanding, honest and protective. And from our little spar, capable and brave. You bring in good income and are kind. And my sister likes you very much."

Alfred twitched again and opened his mouth to ask Ivan what was going on. Ivan, however, continued, cutting him off before he began.

"I like you too, and that is rare. Not many people I see draw my eye. That is why I wish, -"

Ivan suddenly stood up, looming over Alfred. He tried to shuffle back, but found himself stuck between the back of his chair and the tense aura of the imposing Russian. Was he going to hit him? Shout at him? Ivan's hands moved forward and grabbed Alfred by the shoulders. Alfred tensed.

"To congratulate you."

"Con…gratulate?" Alfred stuttered.

"Yes, you will make a fine life partner for my little sister."

"Wha-"

Alfred was cut off by the door opening behind him. He turned to see everyone from Ivan's table rush in. The three nervous men had small smiles on their faces. The scary-looking woman had a creepy attempt at a smile. And, finally, Kat looked more relieved than Alfred had ever seen her.

Ivan all but lifted Alfred out of his seat and placed him on his feet, turning him around and pushing him towards Kat. Alfred stopped short of crashing into her. Alfred saw that Kat was blushing hard and that was when it all unfurled in his mind.

Kat was in love with him and now Ivan had just given them his blessing. Alfred felt nauseous at the revelation and a single phrase intercepted all his thoughts.

I'm a complete moron.

Hello guys, Caz back with Part 14. Oh, I am such a sadist. Do not fret, because it will get better next time. The main plotline is coming near to its end and some of you are undoubtedly thinking that Arthur and Alfred have not gotten enough action this story. But just you wait, because there will be some very nice chapters for this story when this one has ended.