Richard now evolves in another world, and when he comes back home, he has to face some of his responsibilities. (Richard POV)

This chapter is the first one I had a hard time writing, because I don't like to write conflict. It hurts my Kokoro.

Richard had a very hard time talking with Arthur, this afternoon. He wasn't the type to lie, he just wasn't buit that way. So he had to choose his words very carefully, with Eliza looking at him from a distance. But he managed to reassure him, in some way, and Arthur left. Eliza came back right after, without her mask.

"That went smoothly", Eliza jeered. "I have to admit this was pretty cute."

"You okay with that?" Richard asked. "I mean, you and him-"

"It was a long time ago, mister Washington", Eliza said, a little more serious. "In another life, we could say. I went on, and so did he. More than once, if what you said was right."

"Yeah", Richard remembered. "So what's the plan now?"

"We have a play to organize. Go and tell Isaac we will move on with the plan."

"Yes ma'am."

Eliza went back to what she was doing earlier, and Richard went through the corridors to try and find Isaac. He found him in a room, siting on a chair, elbows on the knees and head on the hands, just in time. Before he could imagine himself married with Arthur, and Isaac considered him as a step-father.

"Hey", he greeted the young man.

"Hey", he answered on a similar tone, looking at Richard. "What is it?"

"Eliza wants you to join her in the backstage", Richard explained. "For your plan."

"Oh. Tell her I am coming."

But Isaac didn't move. He was sitting in th same position. Richard came closer to him, and crouched in front of him. At first, Isaac didn't react, but he ended up looking at Richard. Who was still amazed to see how identical Isaac's eyes were to Arthur's. He silently asked why Richard was staring.

"Are you okay, big guy?" Richard asked. "You look far away from here."

"I am fine. It is just… I thought seeing him would be okay. But it was not."

Richard didn't have to ask who he was talking about, it was obvious. He didn't know what to answer, waiting patiently to hear what Isaac had to say.

"I was four when I saw him last time", Isaac continued. "I barely have any memory of him. And yet, when he arrived, I felt something."

"He's your father, boy", Richard said. "That's some bond which isn't broken so easily."

"He is a stranger, mister Washington", Isaac insisted. "I should not be so fazed by him. Especially not if he becomes an obstacle."

"It's alright not to be alright, Isaac", Richard tried. "You just have to think it through. You seem to be a clever lad, you'll figure it out eventually."

Isaac had a little smile, and nodded. Richard didn't really know why he was being so supportive with Isaac. Or at least, he didn't know right away.

Richard stood up, and Isaac left the room at the same time. But they were not going in the same place. Isaac went to rejoin with Eliza, while Richard had to play his role in the theater play the same evening. After that, he was authorized to meet up with Arthur. It wasn't a big role, he was just an appearing, but it was serious business. For Eliza, and for the others.

The rest of the afternoon passed by faster than Richard expected, and soon, the play was going to play out. He was ready and focused, and, just as planned, it went very smoothly. He felt a strange satisfaction when he appeared with the rest of the cast, and was applaused. He liked that a lot, in fact. He could do that more.

After the play, Richard went to see Isaac. He told him he was leaving, as Eliza authorized, and that he would be back the next day, before noon. He rode out of Saint Denis, without making any pause, and arrived at the camp with the sunset. Lenny, taking guard, saw him first, while he was slowing down on his mare. The boy approached him with a wide smile.

"Richard! You're okay!" he greeted him.

"Hey Lenny", Richard answered. "Of course I'm okay. Didn't Arthur tell you anything?"

"Nah. He just went right to his tent, and asked to be left alone. He didn't seem alright, we thought-"

"I'm fine, really", Richard said, putting his mare with the horses.

As Richard went down his horse, Lenny come closer to him and quickly embraced him. With one arm, the other was holding an rifle. Richard was surprised, but he smiled, and hugged him back. For a few moment, he managed to omit how much he appreciated the members of the gang, and how much they seemed to like him. But then, it came back right in his face.

The two men walked past the horses, and went towards the camp.

"So what did I miss?" Richard dared to ask.

"Well Mrs Adler seems to be a lot better now. She goes out a lot more. Things seem to be well between Kieran and Beth."

"Oh", Richard said. "That's sweet."

"And uh me and Sean are a thing too, I guess", Lenny added, shyly.

"Forget about Kieran. You're sweeter", Richard giggled.

Lenny had an embarrassed laughter, and as soon as Richard arrived at the camp, Lenny went back to guard. In the camp, little Jack and Abigail, sitting to a table, saw him first.

"Uncle Rick !" the kid said, joyfully.

"Rich, hey", Abigail greeted him with a little smile.

Richard came closer to them, and soon, the whole camp were looking at them.

"Good to have you back, kid", Dutch said first, putting his hand on Richard's shoulder.

After that, pretty much all of them came to greet him. Abigail, John, Tilly, Karen, Mary-Beth, Kieran and Charles all hugged him one by one. Richard kneeled so little Jack could hug him too. Javier, Sean, Bill and Susan came to say hi as well, quickly, and mister Pearson was waving at him with a smile from his kitchen. So did Sadie, Hosea and Molly, from their respective tents.

Richard remembered what Arthur said. "We all was worried". At first, Richard thought he was exaggerating, or that it was still Arthur being himself, having a hard time admitting what he was feeling. But he could tell, by all the gazes and the affectionate gestures, that Arthur wasn't lying.

Soon after, everyone was going back to ther business. Except for Dutch, who was looking at Richard, eyeing Arthur's tent.

"Go and talk to him, son", Dutch suggested. "He needs you more than anyone here."

"Dutch-"

"No 'son', I forgot. Sorry. Force of habit", Dutch apologised.

"No, it's fine, I don't care anymore", Richard said with a fake laughter. "I just-"

"Go. Please", Dutch insisted, patting Richard's back.

Dutch went back to his tent, and Richard sighed. He went towards Arthur's tent, where he found him, sitting on his bed, drawing. Richard cleared his throat, and Arthur looked at him. Richard didn't like the emotion he was reading on Arthur's face. An expression he didn't see for a while, and he didn't miss it.

"Well look who's there", Arthur said, dryly, putting his sketchbook close to him. "Right on fuckin' time."

"For what?" Richard asked, raising a brow.

"Come and sit, asshole", Arthur ordered him.

Richard frowned, intrigued by his harsh tone, but obeyed. He sat close to Arthur, who was looking at him all the way. Arthur wasn't saying anything. Just staring at Richard.

"Arthur I-"

"No, I don't wanna hear it", Arthur interrupted him. "Except if it's a fucking apology."

"I'm sorry Arthur", Richard said. "As long as Lilah was there, I couldn't say anything."

And to be honest, the lady had a lot of spies. Richard understood that a while ago. Hell, it wouldn't even surprise Richard if she had one in the camp. Though it was very unlikely. Still, he wasn't so at ease right now.

"She do anything to ya?" Arthur asked, tone lower and threatening.

"Arthur I'm fine", Richard repeated. "I'm just working for her, and I can't tell you what my job is exactly. I have a confidentiality clause."

"A what now?" Arthur said, upset.

"I can't tell what I'm doing for her, or there will be consequences."

"So she did nothin' to you, but she threatened you? I can't tell how that's better."

Richard sighed, having nothing to answer to that. Arthur was right, and he was right to be upset. He tried to take Arthur's hand in his, but Arthur didn't let him. He was sending flames with his eyes, but Richard defied his gaze. Arthur ended up sighing too, and ended up taking Richard's hand.

"I dunno what I want most, right now: to punch you in the fucking face, or to kiss you because I'm so glad you're here", Arthur admitted, with half a smile.

"You can do both. I won't blame you", Richard said, squeezing Arthur's hand.

"You serious right?", Arthur sighed.

"I am. If it could make you feel better."

"You have a strange relation with pain", Arthur said, half amused. "You know that?"

"In my line of work, I'm always hurt", Richard said, shrugging. "I'm just used to it, I guess."

"Okay now I'm worried", Arthur said, with an embarrassed laughter.

"Arthur, look at me."

Arthur looked at Richard, deep in the eyes, and Richard put both his hands on Arthur's cheeks. Richard remembered that's precisely what Arthur asked earlier, and Richard understood that Arthur was trying to see if Richard was lying. And he was, by omission. But right now, he needed to be honest, one bit.

"Arthur. I. Am. Fine", Richard articulated, carefully. "And I'm sorry I lied to you earlier. Trust me, it was as painful for me as it was for you."

"You… could tell?"

"I read you like a bloody book, Arthur", Richard chuckled. "I saw right away you weren't believing me. At least, not totally."

Arthur grumbled, and Richard was still amused, releasing Arthur's face. But he felt a little victory when he saw Arthur's half smile appear again. Richard loved that smile, and he smiled as well. He couldn't not.

"Anyone ever tell you you a real pain in the ass?" Arthur said fondly.

"Yeah. Yeah, I think I heard that before", Richard remembered, smiling.

Richard didn't really knew who leaned on first, but they did kiss right after that. But they were interrupted by some greasy laughter coming from just outside the tent. They looked in that direction, and saw Sean looking at them with a mischievous grin.

"Somethin' to say boy?" Arthur asked him, menacingly.

"No, no", Sean answered, still grinning. "I just didn't think that was true."

"Well can you back the fuck off now?" Arthur growled.

Sean left, hands in the air, and Arthur sighed. Richard remembered what the girls said about Sean a few days ago: cute, but annoying. Richard could agree now, just seeing how he pissed Arthur in a few seconds. Richard was a little amused.

"Lenny told me he and Sean were dating", Richard remembered.

"Well shit", Arthur said, genuinely surprised. "I wasn't sure he was gonna do it."

"What?"

"Lenny told me he liked Sean. I suggested he just told him. Looks like he did."

Richard emitted a little "oh". He did remember that Abigail mentioned that. The conversation between Arthur and Lenny, where Lenny said he liked Sean, and Arthur just told him he should talk about it.

"Can we be back to unpleasant business now?" Richard tried.

"I guess", Arthur sighed. "What's this about?"

"I have to go back to Saint Denis tomorrow", Richard explained. "But for now..."

Richard stopped there, and thought about something. He closed tight the tent's entrance, and Arthur looked at him, curious. Richard came back to sit with him, and kissed him, quickly.

"But for now, I'm here", Richard continued. "And I'm gonna make our time count. The time he have left."

"What you mean?" Arthur asked.

"I'll make it worth it. If you're okay with that."

Arthur frowned, and Richard unbuttoned Arthur's shirt in a single motion. Then, he pushed Arthur on the bed, who had his back on it, and Richard sat on him. He saw Arthur redden, and it made him smile.

"I'm okay with that", Arthur said, bashful.

"Good."

Richard leaned on him to kiss him, and soon, the kisses took another meaning. And hearing the noises coming from the tent, no one else dared to come by and interrupt.

You thought it was going to be NSFW, but IT WAS ME, DIO.