Cold hands caressed smoothly up and down warm tan skin to make their touches feel possessive and deliberately. Slim long fingers pressed their tips down to massage the soft skin, occasionally letting their nails dip lower and leave behind a trail of faint red lines as they glided up and down their body.
"Does it feel good when I touch your flesh like this? Do you shiver in pleasure or fear?" The man asked as he held the person's hips firmly in his grasp before sliding them up to feel their small rib cage.
"Ah..." Alfred whimpered when the slim hands glided up his thin torso, slightly scrapping along his bare chest. "Good... so good when you touch me." He guiltily confessed reflexively.
The person grinned at the nude young boy as he eyed him avidly up and down, adoring the prey that was laid willingly before him on the bed.
Alfred bit his upper lip to hold in a moan when one of his nipples was softly grazed over. The slight touch caused them both to perk up and wait for that enjoyable feeling of being teased again. God he wanted to be touched more. To have those hard yet velvety hands glaze over his hips and dips in between his thighs. He wanted the man's touches. He wanted his affection to be poured onto him as he let it all sink in through his quivering skin.
"More...please touch me more?" The American pleaded in a hushed voice as though nervous of his own request but meaning his words. God he wanted it... He wanted him...
The man hummed at the adorable pleads before bowing his head to let his pale lips skim along the younger's ear. "Give your all to me Alfred, and in return I'll fulfill your hearts every dripping desire."
Alfred whimpered at his governing tone, sending a vibrating shiver down his spine. His body was on a thin wire that could snap at any second from the encouraging bliss he was receiving. But his bliss shattered when Alfred felt the man bite into the tender skin above his collarbone. He cried out in befuddling pain as he felt the man whom had once been giving him so much satisfaction, was now sinking his teeth into his flesh like it were pleasurable.
The boy panicked, those caressing hands were now pinning him down and he was helpless to the painful assault on his right side. Alfred closed his eyelids when tears started to spill from his blue eyes that reflected fear.
"Stop!" Alfred cried when he couldn't hold back sobbing. "P-please stop." And to the blonds relief and prayers, it finally did.
The man with crimson stained lips lifted his head slowly to stare down at his victim, blood dripping from the tips of his sandy hair. Alfred gulped and tried to struggle his arms free but it was no use. He was under the mercy of this man now.
With nothing else to do and in a desperate attempt to survive, Alfred cried softly to himself. Biting his lips and looking off to his left, avoiding making eye contact with the torn flesh he knew was on his right.
The man frowned and dipped his head to be inches from the Americans face. Alfred responded back by trying to scout his head away, fearful his face would be next to be ripped apart. He held his breath for the next part of his torment but what happened next surprised him and slightly scared him as well.
The bloody faced man started hushing the crying younger under him and licked up the escaped tears on his cheeks. "Hush now, love. Please don't cry." The man whispered as he continued his cleaning of Alfred's swollen cheeks and eyes with his red tainted kisses.
Alfred started breathing slowly and let the man do as he pleased, scared one wrong move would set him off and result in suffering.
"Don't fear me. You don't need to fear me." He muttered continuously with his lips skimming against Alfred's flushed face. "I won't harm you. I won't ever harm you."
If biting into his shoulder wasn't harming him, then what the hell did this man consider harmful? Alfred started struggling more at the worried thought but the man responded quickly back tightening his grip on the boy's shoulders.
"Shhh, poppet. Don't fret." It was then it finally hit Alfred who was the one touching him, tormenting him, embracing him.
No... Impossible...
The teen turned his head and was met with two pools of slithering green. He shook his head back and forth in denial at the face above him. Why was he touching him? When did he let that happen?
Mr. Kirkland smiled, reveling his white teeth now discolored in his own very crimson blood. "Mine and mine alone." He leaned in and started lapping his tongue along Alfred's smooth neck, enjoying the feeling of warm liquid pulsing under the tanned skin.
"No..." Alfred gasped, realization hitting him hard.
"G-Get off me! I said get off!" He began thrashing more violently as though his life depended on it, which it probably did. "Let go! Help! Someone please help!" He had to free himself. He had to escape and warn others and most importantly save himself.
This time the American was able to free one arm and managed to yank his other loose then went rolling to the edge of the bed. He looked down and saw nothing but blackness. He gulped at the never-ending fall but it was a risk he would rather take than being in the clutches of his deranged neighbor.
He looked over and saw the older man chuckling carelessly at the turn of events. "You can't escape me. I will never allow it."
Then he lunged at Alfred with his nails extended out like a predator closing in on its pray, but it was too late because the young American had already jumped thrown himself from the bed and fell into the obscene darkness below.
THUD
Alfred immediately shot open his eyes when his body came into contact with something hard. He frowned in pain, closing his eyes and rolling onto his side to relive the discomfort in his back "What in the hell..." He muttered, blinking a couple of times to adjust to his surroundings. Where were his glasses? Ignoring the throbbing pain on the back of his head, he sat up and shuffled his hands around on the floor.
There was the sound of something thin and fragile hitting the ground and Alfred froze. Feeling closer he grabbed the arms of his glasses and placed them on his head, squinting his eyes into the lens that made images blurry.
"Ah crap." he whined to himself. His glasses were broken and he was positive of that from having his room displayed in cracks like some freaky mirage.
Standing up, he placed his glasses on what he assumed was his nightstand. It could be Matt's but honestly he didn't care at this point. Squinting his eyes around he could make out that he was still inside his room. A wave of relief washed over him for some reason and he had a feeling it had to do with his dream. Though he was having a hard time at the moment remembering it. Just trying to recall the events made his stomach turn and his right shoulder hurt for some odd reason.
There was a soft knock on the door and Alfred saw what he believed to be was his twin, Matthew.
"Uh, you okay up here, Al? Mom and I heard a loud bang come from our room." The older twins eyes scanned his brother up and done questionably. "Were you just asleep? Because you look horrible."
Alfred couldn't tell if his brother was smiling or not but either way he was still an ass for that comment. "Funny Matt, because I was going to ask you the same thing. Weird right? Must be a twin thing." He mumbled sarcastically as he walked by his brother with one hand on the wall for assurance of where he was going.
Matthew was about to shoot something right back in defense but he quickly noticed the odd actions Alfred was displaying. He shook his head and hitched an arm around his shoulders for further support. "Break your glasses again, eh?" Alfred rolled his eyes but nodded.
"Mom is so going to be pissed." He smiled. Glasses for their family weren't cheap. Him, Alfred, and their father all wore glasses. Out of the three of them, Alfred's eyes had to be the worst. He literally couldn't go out in public without people assuming he was a blind man who lost his seeing eye dog.
Once Matthew had to deliver his brother his spare glasses because somehow broke his normal ones, and found a little Boy Scout walking Alfred around by the arm. Matthew thought it was so adorably hilarious that he had to take a picture of the two. Even though Alfred wasn't smiling photo, him and the excited Boy Scout made an excellent background for his phone for a couple of months. Now it only popped up when his twin called, but Alfred didn't have to know that.
They finally reached the first floor together after a series of yelling and attempted tripping on the stairs of one another. Alfred no longer was holding onto his brother for dear life and causally leaned against the fridge, staring at either his mother or their houseplant. He couldn't really tell the difference with his eyesight at the moment. Why did his mom have to wear the color green all of time?
Mrs. Edelstein looked up from her vegetable cutting to see one of her sons smiling in hidden amusement and the other glaring at a plant. "Alfred dear?" She questioned to her son with concern in her sweet voice.
Alfred heard Matthew snickering from somewhere in the kitchen and wished he could see where he was so he could punch him. The blond turned to his real mother and smiled nervously. "Uh, hey mom. I kinda-sorta-maybe need another new pair of glasses?" He shuttered when he heard the sound of her knife being slammed on the kitchen counter.
"Another pair!? Alfred F. Edelstein! This will be the fifth pair in two months! What's wrong with your spares?" She demanded, crossing her arms over her white apron.
This time Matthew thought he would answer that question, "Those were his spares. He broke his usual pair at school, took a dodge ball right to the face." He snorted.
Alfred shot an angry look at his twin or either the plant. "You were the one who threw it ass hole! Plus, that clearly is against the rules of dodge ball!" He yelled back pointing his finger at him or the plant again. He really wished he wasting yelling at a damn plant. Why did they even have one that big in their kitchen in the first place?
"Rules? What rules!?" He scuffed, crossing his arms over his red hoodie that he bought while at a hockey game in Canada.
"Uh, only the five official rules of the game idiot! Dodge, duck, dive, dip, and dodge!"
Matthew laughed out loud and shook his head in disbelief. "Those are the stupidest rules I've ever heard! Plus you said dodge twice and you were the one who didn't even follow them you numbskull."
Alfred's face turned a dark shade of red before he felt his fist clenching and shaking. "Ok, you listen here pancake boy! I'm-"
His speech was cut off when the houses doorbell chimed loudly throughout the open kitchen. Matthew grinned victoriously, their mother smiled happily with excitement, and Alfred was already running his hand along the wall to find the back door to make a run for it.
Their mother clapped her hands together and gleamed at her sons. "Oh he's here and right on time! What a gentleman indeed!" She dusted off her apron with her hands and went to meet their guest at the door but stopped midway, catching sight of Alfred already nearing the front door. "How nice of you Alfred to want and greet him first! Let him in and bring him into the dinning room where we will be eating." She returned to her cooking to put on the final touches before it had to be served.
Alfred froze at his mom's words while in the hallway. He could have sworn he was walking to the back of the house... Groaning in defeat, he slid his hands slowly along the tan painted walls to make his dreadful way to the door.
A thought crossed his mind that he could slip up the staircase silently, but climbing the wooden stairs on his own might not be the greatest choice of escape. Maybe slipping into the basement? But once again, the stairs compromised his chance of freedom. "Ugh fuck me." He muttered under his breath when he finally reached the door.
Whenever without his glasses, Alfred always thought he gained a sixth sense. His poor eyesight would increase his ability to feel the aura around him. And whatever was behind that front door was definitely something Alfred did not want to let into his house. He practically leaped out of his socks when the knocking came again from the other side of the door.
Taking a deep breath in, Alfred clutched the cooper door handle and pulled it wide open. As he did, he let himself hide behind the door so the intruder would be welcomed by no one but an empty hall.
Alfred stood behind the door but peeked his head around it for any sign of movements with his poor vision. He could here his brother and mom moving about the kitchen somewhere in the background but no noises came from the doorstep. Though that stomach turning feeling was still there so the man had to be near.
"Um hello?" The American asked cautiously, leaning around the door to squint at the open nighttime air. As dark as it was outside, there was no close movement coming from his front porch. Alfred smiled at that. Maybe the old man went home because he forgot to feed his million cats or whatever. Alfred grinned as more amusing thoughts about his neighbor were being made up in his mind.
Not wanting to hold the door open in case the man returned, Alfred sealed it shut and made sure to turn all the locks. But for some odd reason that uncomfortable aura still filled the air. Maybe it was just lingering in the air until thinned out.
"Hello Alfred." Someone whispered into the blond's ear, giving him goose bumps all around. But before the younger could respond to what was happening he was being spun around and having his back shoved up against the door. Alfred grunted at that because his back and head still ached from having his fall from his bed not too long ago.
The teen was certainly startled by the sudden attack as he narrowed his hazy eyes around for answers. He got it though when his poor gaze met the sight of green. He then heard chuckling coming from his attacker and that worried him more how weak he must appear at the moment.
"Mr. Kirkland..." He breathed, still in a state io shock. Hands were then being placed on both sides of his face, cupping his cheeks sincerely.
"It's nice to see you too, love. Have you missed me?" The older and British man asked amusingly with a soft smile ghosting his thin lips.
Alfred could have laughed out loud at that. "As if I would miss some creeper like you, asshole."
The man tsked the boy for his use of profanity before leaning in close to press his nose on the Americans forehead. "I can't say that doesn't disappoint me Alfred, but have I at least been dreamt about?" A curled a smile on his pale lips when he heard Alfred gasp.
"Ah, so I have?"
Alfred felt his neighbor kiss him softly atop his forehead before a shocking pain expanded from that spot to the rest of his head.
Everything that he had forgotten from his dream was now all at once re-entering his mind. His face reddened with the memory of his much older neighbor running his hands up and down his nude body in a possessive manner. But the worst part of it all was when he was bitten into almost savagely. Alfred could feel his stomach turning at the almost real pain he had felt. His knees shook so he held on to the door behind him for support. What the hell was wrong with him? Why would he dream of the man so intimately if he hated him so much? What could have caused them?
Mr. Kirkland leaned away so he could watch the shell-shocked blond teen dwell on the memories of his dream. The look of terror on his face and in those magnificent sapphire eyes where positively brilliant. He would be lying to himself if he didn't want to ravage the boy right there that very second in the comfort of his home up against the door.
Just then Ms. Edelstein entered the room to see what the hold up was with the two. She caught sight Mr. Kirkland helping her son who was leaning on their neighbor for support. "Oh my goodness! Did he fall?" She rushed over to the two and helped by lifting Alfred up on his left side.
Mr. Kirkland nodded and looked at the boy with worry. "The poor lad struck himself with the door while letting me in. I apologize for that it appears I've played some sort of role in all of this." He frowned and held the boy up by his right shoulder.
The woman shook her head at his response as they together moved into the living room to set Alfred down on the couch. "Goodness no! The boy just lost his glasses and is as blind as bat without them. He must have opened it and smacked himself because of it. Please don't go blaming yourself, Mr. Kirkland." She insisted, standing back up to shake her head at her abused son. She was really going to have to consider contacts for the boy if he continues to break his glasses. He has rejected it before but if the money was coming out of her pocket then he didn't have much of a choice.
The British gentleman smiled kindly and stored the little information about the boy and his eyesight for later on. "That's quite a shame. A brother of mind had the same problem. Poor lad couldn't go down the lane without a trip up." He laughed softly at the story.
Alfred opened his eyes and found himself on his couch. He didn't know how or when he got there, but he was glad when he felt he wasn't alone anymore. He weakly glanced at his mother who was laughing along with probably some non-funny joke that was being shared. He knew his neighbor was still nearby because the dark feeling in the air and the black blob with gleaming emerald eyes standing over him.
The American felt extremely uncomfortable being under the man in the state he was, so he slowly sat up and swung his legs over the edge. This caught his mother attention as she leaned down to comfort her boy. "Is your head bothering you? Would you like me to go get you some water and a pill?" She sat up to leave but Alfred quickly reached out and grabbed her green dress to stop her.
"No! J-Just help me up. I'm fine mom." He assured her just as he sensed his twin also enter the room.
Matthew looked upon the scene to see brother in some dizzy type of state and pleading to their mother as their neighbor harbored close by. He eyed the foreign man for moment before the man felt his stare and looked up. The two made eye contact and Matthew turned away quickly and focused all his attention on his twin after he'd been caught.
Ms. Edelstein looked up to see her son and motioned him over with her hand. "Can you take your brother to be seated at the table? I don't want him bumping into something else and hurting himself again."
"Again? What happened?" He asked.
Their neighbor answered to his question instead, "Your sibling took a hit to the head. Almost knocked himself out."
Matthew raised an eyebrow questionably and turned to his brother. He searched his face for any red marks from being hit but there was nothing, though his face did seem oddly pale. He looked back at the older man and saw how he was staring at his brother who was squinting his eyes in the other direction. Something in him coiled and Matt suddenly felt the need to shield his twin.
"Come on, Al. Lets go get you something to eat." He stood in front of Mr. Kirkland, trying to block his gaze that was targeting his brother. He reached out and grabbed Alfred by the wrist before pulling him upwards from the couch.
Alfred didn't complain one bit as he let his brother pull him along from behind and into the other room. He was just relieved to have put some distance between himself and the uncanny man. But as they walked to their safety, Alfred could feel the man's piercing green eyes on his back the entire time.
~.~
Alfred didn't realize how much the gods hated him till somehow he was forced to sit at the end of the table next to, no other, Mr. Kirkland. And the best part of it all? He was still blind as a bat.
He looked down at the plate that was given to him by either his mom or Matthew because he really had no clue. Leaning a bit closer to the plate he took a couple of sniffs. All in all it smelt fine, delicious actually.
His mother watched him from across the table as well did his brother. They looked at each other before back to Alfred.
"Alfred dear, is there something wrong with your food?" His mom asked slightly worried the meal she prepared wasn't going to taste any good. If Alfred wouldn't eat it then that was definitely a sign the food was no good. The boy ate everything.
Alfred looked up surprised and shook his head, not wanting to worry his mom. "Nope! Smells great mom! See!" He took a large but of the chicken with his fork. She smiled and continued her eating. Matthew just rolled his eyes at his brother and smiled.
The food was amazing tonight and Alfred would vote that it was the best meal of the week if it weren't for a certain someone sitting so close. Uncomfortably close actually.
Alfred and his neighbor sat side by side while his mother and brother sat together on the other side of their rectangle table. He wished he didn't have to but he supposed it was better him than anyone else in his family.
"So Mr. Kirkland, I must wonder what do you do for a living?" Mrs. Edelstein asked while taking a sip of her wine. He also had a glass but he had yet to even touch the drink.
He smiled politely and padded his mouth with his napkin. "Suppose I should tell more about myself since you all were so kind to invite me for dinner."
Alfred snorted at the comment in the seat next to him.
Mrs. Edelstein smiled brightly at the man. "A man who dresses so nicely and has such fine manners must have some high end job I would imagine."
The English man laughed but shook his head. "I'm an English teacher, actually. Nothing fancy but none less fulfilling."
"An English man who teaches English! What sense that makes, right boys?" She giggled but Matthew and Alfred just froze in their seats. Both having the same dreadful idea of what was to come next.
"So do you have a job nearby in the area? What grade level do you teach?"
Alfred was praying the man taught elementary school but that seemed unlikely because he'd scare all the kids shitless. Maybe he taught at a university then? That seemed more his style.
"In fact, I happen to work locally now. My résumé has been accepted at one of the resident high schools." He grinned, darting his eyes at Alfred for a spilt second.
No...
"That's wonderful! Which school did you apply to?"
Please...
"The closest faculty in the area so the drive wouldn't be much of a hassle. It's the one named after one of your country's founding fathers. Jefferson, I believe it is."
Alfred nearly choked on his piece of chicken while his twin dropped his fork loudly on the table.
Mrs. Edelstein beamed at him and looked to her boys excitably. "Did you hear that boys? Mr. Kirkland will be working at your school!"
"That's very cool, sir." Matthew forced a smile at him.
They all looked to Alfred who had just got done banging on his chest after his coughing fit. He swallowed and looked around at everyone. "Uh...yay?"
His family shook their heads while his neighbor just quirked an eyebrow at him. Alfred didn't even need his glasses to tell that he was being stared at. The man's dark aura was enough to figure out whatever creepy intentions he held up his sleeves.
"What grade will you be teaching? My boys are both in 10th."
"I'm instructing the senior class. Sorry."
The women pouted at the answer but quickly turned it around into a smile. "What a shame. It would have been nice to have you as a tutor for the boys... Matthew hasn't been doing so well in his English classes as of lately. And I suppose neither has Alfred, but his little friend at school helps him out after school some days."
Matthew looked up at his mom in disbelief as though she told everyone that he was in deed failing the subject. "Mom! I-I'm not doing that bad!" He stuttered.
She turned to him and shook her head. "Oh you just need a little help is all! You can lift that F to an A in no time!" Matthews face flashed bright red as he continued his argument with his mom.
Alfred was on the other side of the table laughing under his napkin. He hadn't known his twin was actually doing worse than he was! He would definitely use this info for any future arguments.
While enjoying the bickering between his family, Alfred had failed to notice that Mr. Kirkland had his chair even closer to him than before.
Alfred nearly jumped from his seat when he felt a hand being placed on his thigh. The only thing that held him in place was when the hand squeezed his leg through his pants. Almost immediately his body reacted and the images from his recent dream returned.
The blond nervously looked up and saw that Mr. Kirkland's eyes weren't even on him but on the display going on in front of them with his mom and brother.
Just as he opened his mouth to argue about the assault, Matthews voice cut in.
"You think Kiku can help tutor me too, Al?" He asked.
Alfred nodded his head. Not daring to open his mouth in case a squeak came out. The man's hand began to travel upwards and Alfred tried scooting backwards in his chair as a response.
"You think so? Could you ask him for me at school tomorrow then? I don't really know the guy like you do."
Everyone at the table seemed oblivious to the sexual assault that was taking place except for the assaulted and assaulter.
"Mmhmm." Alfred hummed in response, twitching when the hand started squeezing his thigh up and down teasingly. God what was he supposed to do? Tell his mom that their perfect neighbor was assaulting him under the table? Would she even believe him after all the things he had done to show his dislike for the man?
"That's all right Alfred. You don't have to ask your little friend. Mr. Kirkland here will tutor Matthew." Their mom looked to the older gentleman who was grinning up at them.
"I would be more than pleased to help your son, Mrs. Edelstein."
She looked at Matthew happily and patted his hand. "See! Now you have an actual teacher to help you!"
Mr. Kirkland looked down at Alfred to see the boy as red as a tomato, biting his lips and squeezing the fork that he still held in his hand.
"F-Fine! But Alfred has to also so it can only be fair. B-Because he needs a real teacher also! Right mom?"
At this point Alfred couldn't hear a thing. His ears were filled with ringing and his eyes blurred into images of explicit content that he couldn't control for some reason. He nearly let out a moan when the English man slid his hand all the way up and cupped his crouch securely. The American closed his eyes and curled his toes into the threads of the carpet from the sensational feeling.
"You wouldn't mind helping Alfred out as well Mr. Kirkland? Having a teacher helping instead of another student seems to make more sense in learning the subject." Their mother asked.
Mr. Kirkland tore his adoring eyes away from the blond teen and looked at the kind women, flashing her a truthful smile. "Certainly. Alfred seems like such a smart young lad and I believe I can help him reach his full potential effortlessly." He smirked at the last part that only Matthew seemed to catch.
"Do you hear that Alfred? Isn't that kind of him to do?"
Alfred kicked Mr. Kirkland's chair leg to get him to stop, resolving by the man grasping him tighter under the table. "Fuck yes..." He sputtered out from the action.
Matthew's eyes widened and the older man just smirked with a bit on surprise on his features. That's when the little light bulb in Matthews head flickered on. He was tempted to look under the table to be sure about his assumption but he didn't want to risk having nightmares for the next week.
"Alfred! Watch your language!" She stormed at him. "I didn't think you'd be that excited. Goodness." She shook her head worriedly before standing up from the table. That's when the Englishman finally released Alfred's throbbing crouch and stood but almost sat back down when the smaller blond let out a soft whine from the loss of his hand. Alfred whimpered in defeat before snapping his mouth shut when his eyes met hungry green.
"Please, let me help with the dishes." Mr. Kirkland offered while picking up his and the Alfred's plates.
"That is so kind of you!" Together they finished clearing off the dinning table and left for the kitchen.
Matthew immediately jumped from his chair and rushed over to his panting twin. He swallowed uneasily while looking down at him. "Y-You okay, Al?"
The younger twin lifted his head and glared at him before shaking it several times and letting it slump back down onto the tables surface. "Am now. Just don't think I'll be able to get up from the table for a few more minutes." He shyly confessed.
It took Matthew a moment before he understood what his brother meant. Now he was blushing also and looking in the other direction. "Dude... We have to tell mom."
Alfred snapped his head up at that. "Are you kidding me!? Talk about embarrassment for a lifetime! Doubt she would even believe me anyways..."
Matthew looked down at his brothers lap problem before answering. "I'm sure she'll believe you once she sees that…"
Alfred groaned and shook his head. "No. Please don't say anything to her. I-I'll handle it somehow on my own. I'm the hero right?" He smiled weakly.
"Yeah, yeah, yeah. Lets just see how the hero can handle his little problem first before taking on bigger things." He joked but was still concerned. The vibes that man gave off were flat-out wrong. Matthew could feel it and he was sure Alfred could just as much as he did.
They both looked up in time to see their mom enter the room alone. Both of them waited for a certain someone to follow but they never came.
"Hey mom? Where's Mr. Kirkland?" Matthew was first to ask.
She shook her head and frowned. "He said he had forgotten about something and just left. The man was in quite a hurry too. I hope everything was all right." She then set the thing that she had carried in with her onto the table gently. "But he didn't leave without telling me he brought us a pie for desert. Wasn't that kind of him?"
She undid the pies wrapping and the sweet smell of it practically smacked Alfred right into the face. It was strong and mouth-watering. Sweet and warm smells filled his nose as he opened his mouth to let them dance on his tongue.
Mrs. Edelstein frowned though when she noticed the flavoring of the pie. "What a shame...it's an apple pie." She looked at Matthew who was wearing the same expression. "Too bad we're both allergic to apple, isn't that right Matthew?"
"Yeah…" He mumbled while his eyes were glued to the sweet-smelling dessert. "Looks like it's all yours Alfred!" Their mother chipped while cutting him a slice of the beautifully made desert.
As Alfred watched his mom cut him a slice out of the mouth-watering pasty, he failed to recognize that the flavoring of the desert was made from the same type of fruit he received earlier as a gift.
And that it was no coincidence.