Francis was still with Molly, only the man awake though. He just sat, stroking her hair tenderly.
Al snuggles with Matt nearby. Arthur sits in the chair.
Francis seemed lost in thought.
Arthur frowns slightly at that as he curls up.
His heart would always belong to Arthur, of that Francis was adamant, but he'd never stopped to realize how beautiful his lover's sister was...
Arthur watches him curiously.
To an outsider, it could easily raise questions... the way he looked at her and his fingers traced her face...
Arthur frowns. He knew Francis was a playboy, but his sister? And with Molly's current state... what could she do if France did make a move... she couldn't even tell him to back off... Arthur curls into himself glaring slightly.
Francis's gaze dropped, looking like he was gazing down her top now.
Arthur growls softly.
Matt woke at the noise, frowning. *Al, am I growling...?*
*No dad is..*
*Wait, what? Why?*
*I think it's the way papa is looking at Molly..*
Matt looked over and frowned. *Ah... but he wouldn't try anything, he's not like that.*
*But does dad know that..?*
*He should... or are we forgetting what Papa did when he thought dad was leaving him?*
Al looks at him.
Molly whimpered softly but Francis was there with doting comfort. Matt frowned slightly too. *...Should we do something?*
*Like what?*
*I dunno, but one finger wrong and I think dad's gonna snap...*
Al frowns standing up and walking over.
Francis saw nothing, busy comforting her.
Al walks over to Arthur signing to him. They talked for a bit before Arthur sighs scrunching up.
Matt kept glancing between them, feeling useless. What was he even doing here?
Al walks back over and sits with him again. *Matt stop with the useless drag..* Al snuggles him. *You've done plenty to help.*
Matt sighed and snuggled in. *You know I hate it when you eavesdrop...*
*I wasn't, you're just radiating.*
*I'm stressed, okay...*
*About?*
*Everything? I dunno, you've got me paranoid about Papa now.*
*..sorry..*
He sighed. *Its fine... You don't think he would, do you...*
*Nah, he's just weird sometimes.*
*I'm worried about the way he looks at her now... where is his hand going?!*
Al glanced over.
Francis's hand was somewhere behind the girl and her brow pulled with discomfort.
Arthur growls again storming over and slapping him and pulling Molly away.
Francis sat, startled. He had just been moving a cushion that had been making her uncomfortable! Molly jerked awake, being pulled about scared her. She panicked and tried to get away.
Arthur frowns at her feeling guilty now.
*Well that didn't turn out well..*
*No kidding,* Matt frown, getting up to take the frightened woman. Molly looked around blankly, chest heaving.
Arthur's ears droop and he hands her over. He walks off to his closet.
Molly wouldn't settle for Matt either. Francis looked between the siblings and frowned. "What was that about?"
"I think he got the wrong idea.." Al says.
"...I'm not going to hurt her," he frowned deeper. Molly leaned towards his voice and he took her back, holding her close. Molly calmed instantly.
Al shrugs.
Was he upset that he could soothe Molly? He thought he'd be glad of the help.
Arthur just huddles in his nest feeling useless.. At least he could lock the door now. He'd just stay in here for a while out of everyone's way..
Francis was worried about Arthur, but just a little hurt that he would even think he would think of Molly in that way...
It wasn't that really.. He was stressed and jumped before thinking.
Problem was, Francis didn't know that... he thought Arthur was just jealous and moody...
The rabbit sighs pulling the blanket over him.
Now Francis's mind was racing. Molly was a beautiful woman... and they had always gotten along well... would he be happier with her?
Arthur curls up hugging himself.
Francis held her, just rocking.
Arthur sighs, he was unwanted and useless at the moment and it hurt him.
Arthur had changed since that collar came into it... did he even love him any more, or was it the collar making him act like he did?
Arthur felt tears in his eyes. Did France not want him anymore either? He always felt like the rest of the world hated him. Today proved no different.
Francis could never hate him, but he felt Arthur just wanted him for the sake of having him. Where had the love gone?
It wasn't true though, he liked the fact that he was loved but he thought France was moving on without him.
He was only moving on because of their miscommunications... and the woman in his arms was just getting more and more appealing...
Arthur shifts pulling his notebook over. He could draw fairly well and likes doodling from time to time. (The chibis on the blackboardX3) He opens to a blank page and just vents in sketches.
Francis just settled with Molly again, holding her a little closer than before.
Matt leaned on Al *Well fuck...*
*Don't tell me they're breaking up again..*
*I think they might be...*
Al sighs *This just keeps getting better and better.. And where the hell is Iain anyway? Is he coming back or what?*
*I have no idea, but dad and Papa are both pretty down.. from what I can sense, neither feels loved...*
Al groans hugging Matt. *We need to do something..*
*And fast.* he hugged back. *Papa's debating moving to Molly...*
*That won't go well at all... Ok you find Iggy, I'll try and talk to France.*
*Gotcha.* Matt stood and started looking.
Al watches him leave and walks over. "You ok?"
Francis looked up, arms protectively holding Mol. "I'm fine. Slightly confused but fine."
"About what?"
"Have I done anything but try to help Arthur since that collar turned up?"
"Well yeah you've helped plenty."
"So why does he think I would try anything with her?"
"I think he just feels helpless right now. Everyone is stressing and he can't do anything to help. He told me he didn't want to mess with the collar until Iain and Molly are better."
"Where is Iain anyway? I've hardly seen him these last few days."
"...Matt woke him up earlier and he stormed off somewhere.."
"Oh... I assume he'll be back in a few days then. He's cooling off."
Al sighs sitting back in the chair.
"He'll be alright."
"What about you though?"
Francis shrugged. "I'll figure something out."
Al frowns. "Have you tried actually talking to him?"
"Yes." he said flatly. Francis was nearly always the one to talk first and he was starting to hate it.
Al rubs his head. "You know how stubborn he is.."
"And I'm starting to get tired of it..."
Al sat chewing on his tongue. This wasn't going well...
"Alfred, please don't worry about this. I think its time we tried branching out again..."
Al sighs mentally moving off to find Matt.
Matt couldn't find Arthur anywhere...
Al walks up to him. *Any luck?*
*I can't find him. He's just vanished.*
*Dude.. did you try, I don't know, using your nose?*
He stared at him the turned and smacked his head on the wall in frustration. Al bit back a laugh, pulling him away. Matt huffed and sighed. Hibernation always messed him up, but it was worse than ever now.
Al hugs him ruffling his hair. And this was the guy who whoops him at winter sports?
He was fine once bear went to sleep. It was just the grouchy stage before and after. Al smiles leading off down the hall. Matt grumbled along behind him, slouching some.
He follows the trail best he could, with Arthur's scent all over it was kind of tricky..
Matt just watched for a bit then slipped off for painkillers - he had a migraine brewing...
Al stops in front of the closet his head tilts to the side turning to it.
Matt came back and frowned. *Got him?*
*I hear pencils..*
*...Me too. He's drawing then?*
*I guess so.. Should we knock?*
Matt shrugged and stepped up, gently knocking on the door.
The scratching stopped and there was a bit of shuffling. Arthur peeks out the door cautiously.
Matt crouched by the door, smiling gently. "Hey...you alright?"
Arthur shrugs. "... How about we take you out for lunch?" Al says. Arthur sits for a moment before coming out.
Matt offered a hand, wanting a physical connection. Arthur takes it. He felt kind of lonely at the moment.. Al smiles as they head toward the door. Matt held tight, wanting to be a comfort to him as he lead him to the door.
They didn't even pass through the lounge. Arthur holds tight and they walk down the street. Al takes his other hand.
They stepped into a chilly but dry evening. Matt smiled. Al leads the way to a pizza shop. They step in and order a pepperoni and a spinach Alfredo for Arthur. Arthur only took a few bites of the pep before turning to the spinach.
Matt couldn't help but chuckle as he tucked into his pizza.
Al smiles biting into his own slice. *Should we talk or just cheer him up?*
*I think cheer him up. He doesn't seem up for talking.*
*Fine with me, though I wonder if we can sneak a peek at his sketch..* Al glanced to the rabbit taking another bite.
*So it's not just me he's got curious,* he chuckled.
Arthur glanced up at that. Al quickly responds "So Artie got anything you want to do?" The rabbit shrugs.
"You sure? You've been cooped up a while." Matt asks.
Arthur thinks for a bit. 'Are there any movies playing?'
"I'm sure we could find one, if that's what you want to do."
Arthur smiles softly. He was tired of staying at the house so much but what could he do?
"Anything you wanna see?"
Arthur shrugs. 'Something funny maybe?'
"Let's finish eating then we'll go find a theater, okay?"
He nods picking up another slice.
They munched away happily. *Where's the nearest place?*
*Uh I think there's one a few streets over.* Al replies.
*Alright...* Matt kept stealing glances at Arthur, making sure he was ok.
Arthur was watching out the window glancing at people passing by. There were quite a few. It was Saturday, after all.. Arthur watches as a couple crossed the street holding hands. His ears drooped under his hood but his face stayed the same.
Matt sensed the sadness though and patted his shoulder gently. Arthur looks up at him.
Matt smiled warmly and signed 'You'll be okay.'
Arthur sighs gripping his hand. He smiles softly back.
He gave a reassuring squeeze as he finished off his food.
They soon take off toward the theater. Matt kept holding his hand all the way there. He was almost scared to let go. Al kept hold of his other one. When they arrived at the theater it turned out they were having a small film festival with classic comedy skits. The Stooges, Chaplin, Laurel & Hardy. Al grins and gets tickets. Matt couldn't stop smiling. This was great!
They walk in and take seats. The screen plays though various shorts and even Arthur was smiling again. That was enough to lift Matt's mood and even settles his bear.
By the time it finished it was getting late. As they left the sky was orange with the sunset.
Matt took his hand again as they started off home. Arthur smiles walking hand in hand with his boys.
Soon enough, they were home. The others were nowhere to be seen.
Arthur twitched his ears nervously.
Matt frowned. *Al... you don't think...*
*Go check upstairs, I'll take dad to the kitchen..*
*Got it...* he let go of Arthur's hand, smiling. "I need to pee, be right back."
Arthur watched him leave as Al pulls him to the kitchen. "You hungry?"
Matt slipped up and started looking around.
Al pulls Arthur into the kitchen and sets him in the chair. He pulls out some leftover pasta and heats it up.
Matt stopped to pee.
Al sets out three bowls and sits eating. Arthur pushed his around with the fork.
Matt finally found them in Molly's room, snuggled up together for the night.
Al watched Arthur nervously. The rabbit wasn't eating.
Matt sent the image to Al. *What do you wanna do?*
*I don't know... I think he already figured it out though..*
*She's scared and needs comfort,* he shrugged. *We can't prove they've done anything.*
Al sighs *Let's go with that then..*
*Alright...* he came back and sat with them...
Al smiles at him as he sat. Arthur still hasn't eaten.
Matt smiled and teased lightly. "Arthur; you haven't even touched yours! Is it that bad?"
He shrugs. 'Still full from earlier.'
"I suppose that's fair," he hummed. *He's still upset, isn't he.*
*Very.. And he was finally smiling too..*
*Well we can't expect papa to just abandon Molly. It would shatter her...*
*True.. let's just hope he comes back around..*
*Hopefully...*
Al looks to Arthur and sighs. He reached over and hugs him. Arthur is confused at first but leans in.
Matt sighed and cleared the table.
"It'll be fine Dad, Molly is just clingy right now and doesnt want to be alone.." Al says. Arthur sighs gripping him back.
Matt came over and joined the hug, snuggling into them both. Arthur grabs onto Matt as well. Just trying to pull himself together.
They needed each other... they needed to level out..