Chapter 14
The next morning Alfred woke up seeing Arthur sleeping next to him with a small smile on his face. Alfred wanted to just keep him like this forever. Just here in his arms away from harm. Alfred never wanted to let him go. Even if it was for just a week. Alfred ran his fingers through Arthur's hair causing Arthur to stir a bit. Alfred wished he could just take all the pain away from the world, be a real hero. Alfred was going to make it the best of the time they had left. That way if things got tough he'd be able to hold on unit till he got back. Arthur stirred again this time waking up.
"Morning" he mumbled. Snuggling closer to Alfred.
"Morning babe." Alfred replied holding Arthur closer. Arthur looked up at Alfred. It was a picture perfect image. His emerald eyes were like gemstone.
"You're starring" Arthur whispered.
"Wouldn't you too if you saw an angel?" Alfred responded smiling. Arthur blushed covering his face. Alfred laughed at Arthur's shyness. Arthur said something but Alfred couldn't understand it. "Hm?"
"I said you're the angel love." Arthur repeated kissing Alfred.
"Hey you guys decent?" Matthew asked through the door.
"Yeah Mattie come in." Alfred announced. Arthur looked over Alfred to Matthew.
"It's almost nine so I was just worried." Matthew said. "That and I wanted to go with Gilbert to leave you guys alone. You know." Matthew said laughing.
"Get your mind out of the gutter Mattie!" Alfred threw a pillow at the teen. Who just continued laughing. "Go clean your brain." Matthew left to get ready. Alfred got up as well starting to change. Arthur got up and hugged him. He let go and moved to get changed. He passed a mirror. Instead of turning away like he normally would do he actually looked at himself for once. Alfred turned around and saw him.
"You know if I didn't have these scars." Arthur paused to turn to Alfred. "I'd be hot as hell." He laughed. Alfred smiled.
"You're already hot." He walked over and kissed Arthur who wrapped his arms around Alfred's neck pulling him closer.
"I'm gonna miss you. Even if it's just one week." Arthur whispered kissing him again.
"I know but we're going to do everything today and even more tomorrow so you can't just think back and everything will be ok again." Alfred explained. Arthur nodded and finished getting ready while Alfred went down to get a picnic together. Arthur felt like he'd been here for years and he was going to be pulled back to reality. At the moment he didn't care he was eighteen and with a person he loved who loved him back. He walked down stairs where Alfred was already for their day out. They took his bike to the hill and had their picnic there. Watching the town. Alfred and brought a radio so they had music playing softly in the background.
"It's a beautiful town." Arthur spoke. "Everything's just so. So perfect without even trying. I don't get it." Arthur looked over to Alfred.
"We'll sometimes you don't have to get things. Just live for what you have. Ya know ?" Alfred replied.
"I suppose." Arthur laid down in the blanket and looked at the clouds slowly moving in the sky. "When I was younger, I would hide in the grass and look up at the sky. I would always see birds flying past and wish I could be one. Just fly away somewhere. Travel. See things I never thought I'd see." Arthur explained. "I just wanted to find my place." Alfred listened to Arthur talk. Thinking about their life and what it'll be like once he gets back. Would they ever go on a trip together? "Are you spacing out on me?" Alfred snapped out of his thoughts.
"Guess you're rubbing off on me." He replied looking at Arthur. They stayed up there for a while talking some more. Alfred took Arthur to the lake and taught Arthur how to fish but it ended up with both of them in the water. Arthur was the first to get out scolding Alfred on his clothes being soaked.
"You're going to get a cold if you stay there." Arthur yelled.
"It's not that cold I'll be fine." Alfred shouted back. Arthur sat down and watched as Alfred came out reluctantly.
"You're freezing Alfred." Arthur said, hugging him. The two made their way to the house walking hand and hand. Alfred opened the door for Arthur and they heard footsteps running.
"Mattie?" Alfred questioned. There was some hushed arguing and the Matthew emerged from behind the wall. His hair was a mess and his glasses were skewen.
"Uh Al, I thought you were going to stay out longer." Matthew asked.
"We took a swim that wasn't planned, but uh I don't think that's the important thing right now?" Alfred said, pointing to the wall. Matthew nervously laughed.
"Yeah well like. Um." Matthew couldn't come up with any words explaining the half dressed Gilbert hiding behind the wall.
"On second thought I don't wanna know." Alfred laughed and started going up stairs leaving the two to figure it out. Arthur followed changing into something warmer then laying on Alfred's bed. Alfred looked over at him while changing. "You comfy?"
"Extremely." Arthur replied. Alfred laughed and sat next to Arthur. He kissed him slowly. When a knock came from down stairs. Alfred paused to listen.
"Al!" Matthew screamed. Alfred and Arthur bolted down stairs to find Gilbert protectively standing in front of Matthew and Ivan towering over the two.
"Back off." Gilbert growled. His shirt was off still and you could see the bruise that still stained his skin. Ivan scoffed.
"What do you want?" Alfred asked coldly. Making sure that Arthur was behind him.
"Nothing. I came to apologize. A job is a job. I take much pride in my work and getting the job done under any circumstances." Ivan spoke briefly glancing at Gilbert.
"We don't need your bs apology." Matthew spat. Ivan shrugged.
"Alright. I'll be leaving then" He turned to face the door, stopping to look at Arthur. "Arthur." He stated before exiting. There was still a slight tension once he left no one really knew what to do.
"Fucking asshole." Matthew cursed under his breath.
"Matthew." Alfred gasped.
"What? He deserves that!" Matthew defended. Gilbert decided it was time he headed out leaving the three to hang out in the house. Arthur sat on the floor playing with Jerry. "Well he's warmed up to you." Matthew smiled. Arthur pet the goat setting down the toy they were playing with.
"Finally. I'm actually going to miss his demonic arse." Arthur laughed.
"You sure you'll be ok?" Matthew asked.
"Of course. I can handle myself pretty well if I want. Besides it's just Francis." Arthur replied. "It's not the best situation but it definitely could be worse." Matthew sighed.
"I guess that's true. It's still pretty messed up tho." Matthew played with the bottom of his shirt. "I mean." He trailed off at the end.
"I know. Life has a way of dealing me all the worst cards." Arthur sighed. Jerry baahed in response. "Well I suppose this is the best card it's dealt me. I don't think life can get better than this." Matthew smiled but had a sneaking feeling of dread. Like once Arthur left he wouldn't be coming back. There was no real explanation for it, probably just nerves and his active imagination. Alfred smiles at Arthur. His heart felt heavy but he knew that Arthur would come back.
"Arthur please come back safe!" Matthew burst pulling Arthur into a tight hug. He couldn't help but tear up. "I don't want to lose you too." Arthur was stunned for a moment. Never had someone felt so close to him. For someone to want him so tightly and lovingly. Arthur finally hugged Mathew back.
"Don't worry Matthew. Even if I have to swim across the Atlantic Ocean I'll come back." Arthur spoke softly his eyes tearing up as well. It was a peaceful moment. After they broke the hug Matthew whipped his eyes.
"Sorry for crying on you." He laughed lightly. "I should get to bed. I'll be there to say goodbye." Matthew promised before leaving Alfred and Arthur. It was silent between them. These were the last few hours they would have before being separated.
"You are coming back. Right?" Alfred asked breaking the silence.
"Of course love. There's nothing over there for me. Francis will see that no matter how hard he tries he can not buy my love." Arthur replied firmly he placed his hand on top of Alfred's. "I didn't think it was ever possible, but what you have shown me in this short time." Arthur paused looking Alfred in his eyes. "Unconditional love. A family. That's something that can never be bought." They kissed.
"I don't want to sleep. I don't want to lose a second of time with you." Alfred spoke. Arthur smiled at him.
"I have an idea. Why don't you teach me how to make hot coco. I'll drink some every night while I'm gone." Arthur suggested.
"Totally!" Alfred beamed bouncing off the couch pulling Arthur up with him.
"I do have to warn you. I'm a terrible cook." Arthur laughed.
"That's all right I'm a grade A teacher." Alfred joked leading the way to the kitchen. After quite a few mishaps in the kitchen. They were finally able to make an edible cup of hot chocolate. They sat down at the island to drink it. "You are horrible in the kitchen." Alfred laughed.
"I tried to warn you." Arthur smiled. "Everytime I tried to cook it would end up in flames." Arthur stared at his cup worriedly. Alfred looked at the clock at 4 am. They never set a time Francis would come. But Arthur doubted it would be past 9am.
"The sun will be up soon." Alfred stated with melancholy.
"It should pack shouldn't I." Arthur sighed.
"I'll help." And with that they went to pack Arthur's things.