Arthur was completely stumped as to who this mysterious boy was. All throughout the trip of sloshing footsteps and pattering rain, the lad had said absolutely nothing to him, only giving him nods and shrugs whenever the man had asked him questions about their upcoming destination or how he was associated with Alfred. Which was honestly a bit rude, but his look-alike did offer to shield him from the rain, so there were at least some decent manners embedded into this silent escort. By the fifth uncomfortable head shake the Brit stopped speaking, accepting the quietness as the two continued along the path.
As they kept walking the downpour began to lesson from a thundering riot to a light drizzle, and soon the clouds had fled leaving unfiltered sunlight shining down at them. The boy lowered his umbrella, pulling it closed after thoroughly shaking off the excess moisture. Turning to Arthur, he smiled cheerfully as he pointed upwards at the sky.
"Yes, it has finally let up." Arthur said, a bit stunned that the boy was somewhat engaging him in a conversation, "Quite a nice day now with all that rain gone."
Indeed it was. The clouds, now a fluffy white, gave the sky a beautiful picturesque feel, and even the birds had returned, flying high through the trees squawking and chirping.
The lad beside him gave another one of his shrugs as swung his arms broadly matching his happy strides. His freckled face was noticeably much rounder than before now that the blurry raindrop curtain had vanished. In fact, he looked much younger than Arthur had originally thought, seemingly falling between the ages of 13 to 15 at the oldest. And the boy had the Brit's striking features, which he found alarming and mildly disturbing. Who on God's green Earth was this child?
A tap on his arm brought Arthur's attention back as he looked down at his miniature self who was excitedly gesturing towards a large colonial style building only yards away from them.
They had arrived. Wonderful. Now he could give Alfred that promised lecture he had been somewhat reciting in his mind as retribution for Arthur's soiled trousers, and waterlogged shoes. His brows furrowed. He was not going to hold anything back, including asking for his clothing to be properly laundered and starched.
Marching up to the porch, the Brit was out paced by the boy gleefully passing him and immediately ringing the doorbell bouncing his heels in anticipation. As he approached the entrance way the door flew open revealing a teenage girl dressed in gothic style crop top and ripped jeans. She was chewing gum loudly, popping it between her lips as she mussed his tour guide's hair up and pushed him inside. Noticing Arthur, the girl rolled her blue eyes, and rested her back against the dark oak.
"You coming in or what, old man."
"Excuse me?" He replied appalled.
The punk-looking girl groaned, squishing the gum into her cheek, "I said are you coming inside? Or are you gonna stand there all day looking like a drowned rat?"
Alright, a silent boy he could handle, but this disrespectful teen was another story. Absolutely atrocious attitude, who raised these children? Where was all the etiquette, the hospitable behavior? Society was doomed.
Gritting his teeth Arthur entered, passing the sneering girl as he shot her a distasteful glare in return.
"Rather impolite to speak to an adult that way, miss."
Flipping him off with both hands, she kicked the door closed before hissing, "Suck my dick you limey bastard."
Eyes fully widened Arthur opened his mouth in indignation, "Why you!-"
"Uh dude?"
Alfred spoke up from behind holding hands with the lad from earlier who was now in a change of dry clothes carrying a tote under his free arm.
"Ah Alfred, thank goodness you finally decided to show yourself. Now would you please tell this young lady to watch her mouth." Arthur chastised partially sarcastically, as he motioned to the restless teen who gave him the bird again.
Looking back between both of them Alfred sighed adjusting his glasses as he took the bag from the boy beside him and shooed him away.
"Yo Libs stop with the swearing and go take a chill pill."
Stomping her feet the girl huffed angrily and stormed out of the foyer leaving the two men standing there alone.
After a moment of silence Alfred muttered out, "So… sorry about the rain."
He rubbed his neck sheepishly as he handed Arthur the tote, its contents containing some thrown together toiletries.
"I meant to warn you sooner, but I kinda forgot you were coming. At least Charlie got to you halfway?"
Arthur's face was a fuming red as he shivered from being in soaked clothing for almost two hours now. His nose was runny, his head was slightly dizzy, and he probably caught a nasty virus from the mixture of stress and the weather. Glowering deeply his monstrous brows practically merging into each other he venomously snarled at the oblivious American.
"I am cold and wet. I need a change of clothes and hot tea now."