Arthur and Alfred had been seeing each other for a couple months, being careful with every time they met up. Although, they did almost got caught a couple times within those months. For example:
Alfred and Arthur sat in the cafe, talking and enjoying each others company, "And that was basically the worst trip I ever took." Arthur was trying to calm his laughter before he spoke up, "Are you serious? I can't believe you actually almost jumped out of the plane just because of a stupid horror movie! It's just a movie Al!"
Alfred blushed and said, "Shut up!" Arthur laughed for a moment longer, "Alright alright, now then, what was your worst trip you ever took?" Alfred asked as they got up for Arthur to get another tea. Arthur thought for a moment while they waited in line, and before Arthur could start the story he saw Francis about to walk into the cafe.
Arthur shoved Alfred behind the counter and before Alfred could ask why, he saw Francis and told the nervous cashier woman to stay quiet. "Arthur? What are you doing here mon cher?" Arthur smiled nervously before saying, "I was just wanted to get a tea before heading home...also what are you doing here?"
"Just here to get something to drink as well, so let's get something then head home, I had a fairly hard day." He said in his normal 'he has something planned for later' tone. Arthur shuddered at the thought and noticed that it was taking a lot for Alfred to just stay in that spot and not tackle Francis.
Francis started telling the woman their orders and Arthur looked at Alfred and mouthed to him, 'Just stay there till him and I leave.' Alfred looked like he wanted to protest but before he could, Francis turned around and led Arthur and him to the other side to wait for their drinks. Once they received their drinks and were about to leave, Arthur made one last look at Alfred and mouthed, 'I'm sorry..'
Another time they almost got caught on a walk through a park:
Arthur walked along the sidewalk near the park with his hand held tightly in Alfred's. There wasn't much laughing as much as there was just chuckles going on. Alfred and him were talking about when Arthur and him could finally be together, that is, if they could.
"I say we move to the states, where I came from." Arthur looked over at him, "Why? What could possibly in America the her in England couldn't give the same, or better?" Alfred laughed.
"Well I can tell you what England DID give me.." he said as he stood in front of Arthur for a moment. Arthur looked up at him as if he was in a trance and asked, "What did England give you love?" Alfred smiled warmly, leaned close to Arthur and kissed his lips lightly before parting to say, "it gave me the person who I know for a fact...I want to spend the rest of my life with."
Arthur blushed and kissed him again, this time a little longer, "Thank you love..." They both smiled at each other before starting their walk again hand-in-hand.
Arthur was smiling, not just on his face but in his heart as well, he always felt the happiest with Alfred and he couldn't wait for the day when he could be with him forever. Of course that couldn't happen until they got away from Francis who was driving down the street...FRANCIS IS COMING DOWN THE STREET!
Arthur panicked and shoved Alfred into a bush they were passing, "I'm sorry to do that again love, but I have to go." Alfred looked down the street and saw Francis coming up in his car and hid deeper into the bush.
Arthur just kept walking as if just enjoying the scenery, "Arthur, what are you doing?" Francis asked as he drove up close to him. Arthur shrugged and said, "Just felt like taking a walk." Francis raised a brow but let it go anyway, "Well get in. Still have some work I need to do before tonight, and I'm sure you probably do too."
Arthur nodded and got in the car before they drove off.
Arthur knew that he and Alfred had to stay a secret but it was getting harder and harder each time they wanted to see each other, and Francis was starting to get suspicious. Throughout the months, Arthur had been getting distant, not that he wasn't trying to do that before, but now it was becoming painfully obvious.
Every time Francis wanted to do something, Arthur would just nod and look in the distance with what a person could only describe as a wishful look on his face.
Lately it seemed Arthur had been spacing out, and it looked like he was thinking about something or someone, and Francis was starting to think that it wasn't him anymore, though how he thought he was thinking of him in the first place was a mystery to Arthur.
So one day when Arthur came home from work, Francis was already there waiting for him. Arthur turned and gasped when he saw him sitting there, "Francis..you scared me...what are you doing here so early?" Francis slowly stood up and said, "Why my little Angleterre, I thought that we should spend a little more time together, don't you think?"
Francis had gotten up ad walked over to Arthur, so close that he was basically in his face. Arthur turned his head from slightly Francis' gaze, big mistake. A loud smack was heard throughout the room as a result from firm smack across Arthur's face. Arthur was breathing heavily as Francis started to circle around him in a menacing way.
"What do you do after work Arthur?" Francis asked. Arthur tried to keep his voice as even as he could and said, "W-What are you talking about? I-I come straight home from-" Arthur's sentence was cut off by another hard smack across his head.
Arthur held his head in his arms as Francis spoke again, "You're seeing someone aren't you?" Arthur's eyes shot open when Francis said that, thought he made sure Francis didn't see his reaction. But Francis could tell by Arthur's body language that he was assuming it to be true.
Francis stopped in front of Arthur and said, "Take your shirt off and turn around." Arthur looked up at him in horror as he knew what he was going to do, "No Francis p-please. I'm not cheating on you, I swear!" Arthur begged.
Francis kept that cold stare and said, "Shirt off. And turn around. NOW." Arthur flinched but did what was told, He slowly took of his shirt showing the scars from the last time he got this treatment, which were still pretty sore, and turned around.
Francis had removed his belt, and held onto both ends firmly, before meeting the middle of it to Arthur's back.
This continued for about an hour or maybe longer or maybe even shorter, Arthur didn't know anymore. Francis had finally finished and walked away to get ready for bed. Arthur slid down the wall as carefully as he could so as to not hurt the new scars he now sported.
He was glad of the fact that even though Francis did this to him mercilessly, he never did anything in bed for at least a day, or two at the most to let him heal a bit. Arthur waited on the ground in the living room as a sad shell of a human being, before he heard the door to their bedroom close.
He then let silent tears crawl down his face, they stayed silent, and they came down fast and in a bigger quantity. Once the tears started he couldn't make them stop, he just sat there on the ground crying and crying and crying, he had learned at an earlier time of the beatings that if he was heard crying, he would get beat even more.
So when the tears finally stopped, he slowly stood up as to not hurt the scars anymore than they already were. He walked into the bathroom and gently took care of the blood, bandaged himself up and put on his pajamas as best he could. He cleaned up any mess that was made in the living room before silently climbing into bed and attempting to fall asleep.
The next morning was like the rest of the day for Arthur, hollow. Anything that was happening around him didn't seem to register into his mind, he face didn't show any kind of emotion and his eyes looked soulless. Feliks tried to help in any way that he could, but nothing seemed to work.
Arthur didn't know what to do anymore, just as things started to look up, they went straight down hill, he let himself get careless and hopeful, and this was the result. Francis didn't seem to care or mind at all, he just continued as if everything were the same, which meant that Arthur got the same treatment every night.
Every night Arthur found that he was crying himself to sleep. This continued for about a month, and every one had basically given up on trying to talk to him about anything besides work.
One day when Arthur was walking to his car from the building, he heard a familiar voice, "Arthur..." Arthur looked behind him and there was that familiar tanned skin, the familiar muscles, the familiar hair with that one random one sticking up, and those oh so wonderfully familiar blue eyes.
Arthur in his mind was so excited to see him but his face didn't show that same emotion. "Hey Artie...I was afraid that I wouldn't see you again." Alfred said as he tried to give Arthur a hug. The closer he got there was suddenly fear starting to show on Arthur's face.
Every step Alfred took closer to Arthur, Arthur took one step back from him. Alfred then took a couple big steps towards Arthur, effectively making him go into a defensive position. Alfred looked worriedly at him and came a little slower to him.
Arthur looked like a kicked puppy, or worse, an abused puppy. Alfred knew that Francis did this to his Arthur, and he was not happy one bit. "Artie...it's okay..it's just me...Alfred..remember?" Arthur had ended up on the ground with his hands on his head, something that just didn't seem like Arthur, and it made him even more mad. Alfred leaned down to face him carefully.
Alfred slowly reached his hand near Arthur's head to gently stroke it, but as Alfred suspected he backed away in fright. "Artie, it's okay, I'm not Francis. I promise, I would never hurt you...remember?" Arthur slowly looked at Alfred and started to uncurl in his position. Alfred smiled and gently stroked his head, finally Arthur seemed to come fully back, and as soon as he did he tackled Alfred and cried into his shoulder.
Alfred just held Arthur tightly in his arms, wanting so badly to protect him from anything and everything that came their way.
Arthur kept crying for a bit longer and all Alfred did was hold him tightly. Finally when Arthur felt up enough to try and talk, he told Alfred everything that had happened a month ago, and how things had been since then, "It's been pure hell Alfred...I don't know what to do anymore...I was so happy...but now..."
Alfred kissed his forehead and said, "Don't worry babe...we'll figure out something...I promise..."
Alfred and Arthur went to the cafe and spent the next little while thinking of a way for them to get away from Francis, without something horrible happening to them. They sat in the cafe, a tea in front of Arthur, and a coffee in front of Alfred.
Arthur took small sips of his tea just trying to calm down, and continuously checking outside the window wasn't really helping him or Alfred. Alfred sighed and said, "Artie, you need to calm down, repeatedly checking out the window isn't going to help either of our nerves."
Arthur sighed in reply and said, "I'm sorry love, I just can't take any more chances right now. Francis was suspicious before, and I can't prove to him that he was right, that I am cheating on him. And whatever he does to me, no one will believe me."
"I believe you." Alfred said. Arthur scoffed and said, "Of course, the man whom I cheating on my husband with would believe me..." Alfred sighed again, seeing as Arthur had a point, he couldn't really say much.
Arthur put his hands in his face and let out a quiet sob, "I feel like I'm falling apart, I don't feel like the same man I was before I met Francis..."
Alfred kept a solid stare at Arthur while he talked, and decided to attempt to bring him up even a little bit, "What were you like before you met him?" Arthur chuckled and seemed to brightened up a bit.
"Well, before I met Francis, I must admit that I used to party quite a lot." Alfred smirked and said, "Seriously? I can't see you like that at all!" Arthur chuckled and said, "Whether you believe it or not it's true." They both laughed as Arthur continued telling Alfred more about himself in the past after leaving his home, which Arthur still didn't fully tell him about.
They continued about how Arthur was before he met Francis for about an hour before Arthur figured he should head home to said person.
"I'm sorry Alfred but I need to go." Arthur got up and Alfred offered to walk him to his car.
On the way to the car, Alfred grabbed onto Arthur's hand and held it tightly in his own. Arthur looked over at him and then at their hands and smiled. When they got to Arthur's car they were really reluctant to let go, Arthur liked the feeling of Alfred's hand holding his.
Before Arthur could get into his car Alfred stood in the way of the door. Arthur chuckled and said, "Come on you git, I have to go." Alfred kept blocking any chance for Arthur to get in his car. They were laughing the whole time.
By the time Arthur could have gotten in the car he was tight in Alfred's arms. He was facing Alfred in his arms, and they were just smiling at each other. Arthur then slowly brought their lips together, they stayed exactly like that for as long as they could.
When they parted, they connected their foreheads. Both sighed and Alfred said, "I really like you Arthur...you know that right?" Arthur blushed and said, "I know...but you still can't love me yet."
Alfred sighed in annoyance and said, "I don't see why now. I know you well enough, why can't I yet?" Arthur gently caressed Alfred cheek before kissing his lips again. "Because I'm still married..." Alfred pouted and said, "It's not like you love him..."
Arthur just chuckled and said, "I know I don't, so trust me when I say of how much I would rather be with you. But we still can't properly love each other just yet...alright? I just feel it's best to wait...okay?"
Alfred kept the pout on his lips and said, "Fine...I guess. I can't wait for the day when you leave him then I can finally say..." Alfred got their lips not even an inch apart and said in a quiet whisper, "I love you."
Arthur pushed their lips together once more before parting so Arthur could finally leave. When Arthur got in the car Alfred stood next to the drivers side and gave a reassuring smile. Arthur looked over at Alfred and saw the smile, he smiled back before driving off.
Arthur arrived home before Francis, lucky for him, and decided to make himself some tea. While waiting for the water to heat up he decided to think of ways to be able to successfully leave Francis.
He thought that if he showed someone his scars they would believe him, till they confronted Francis. Then he would come up with some stupid sob story about it being Arthur's father that made all of them, and they would believe that because he had one scar on his back from his father, but that was it.
Of course every one would believe the stupid sob story unless they knew Francis. And sadly only three people knew how Francis really was, and that was him, Feliks, and Alfred. No one, not even his family or Francis' parents knew what he did behind closed doors, and that would not help Arthur in the least.
Every one who knew Francis, didn't know his bad sides, they only knew the sides they wanted to see. Arthur rubbed his face with both his hands before hearing that the water was ready.
After the tea was ready Arthur took a small sip and sighed in content. He sat on one of the chairs in the kitchen and let his mind wonder to Alfred. He smiled as he thought about the American, he wanted so badly to love him but for some reason he just felt it wasn't right.
Then his mind traveled to the past and the day when his father got so mad at him, that he struck him. The biggest scar on his back, was from his father and it went right across his spine. The scar went from the top back part of his right shoulder and went across his spine, and went to where his pants line met.
His brother who moved to Wales later in his life, had to take him to the hospital that night it happened, he had to stay at the hospital for a while as they stitched it back together. When they returned home a few days later, their father was passed out on the couch with alcoholic beverages of all kinds around him.
His father was only violent when he was drunk, and he wasn't drunk very often, till after his mother died. After his mother died he drank every night, but he always drank at the bar and came home really late, which only lead him to bed with a new woman each time. His father loved each of them, but after that night, he just didn't seem to care anymore.
And he really didn't after that, all the kids had to do what they could to pay for the house and the groceries, and any thing else that needed a good amount of money for. But after all his siblings left, he was the only left to pay for everything. Arthur had to get at least three different jobs to be able to pay for everything.
He even dropped out of school to be able to work, to be able to pay for it all. Anything that he could save he did, and twenty years later he was finally able to leave and move away. When he left, he heard that his father left not too long after to go live with the person who later became his step-mom.
And after a few years of freedom from his father, that's when he met Francis. He met Francis when he vacationed in France at one time. After getting to know each other, that's when they decided to date, and a little later, that's when Francis proposed.
Arthur regrets ever saying yes to this sadistic, idiotic, and all in all horrible man.
And their wedding ceremony was basically only Francis' side of the family, Arthur may never have been very close to his brothers, but they did at least come to the after party, and that was enough for him. Because as soon as he told his father that was getting married...to a man, he basically disowned Arthur.
Arthur didn't much care, the only thing that irritated him for the longest time was how his step-mom was trying to be his mother, he blew up one day and told her to just back off and that she will never be anywhere close to being his mother.
After a while he apologized to her and she seemed alright, so they were on okay terms, to an extent at least. Although he still didn't talk to them much either way, he didn't want to talk to his father any way after what he did.
Once in a while Arthur will have a want to see his father, but his father still never wanted to see him, and that was fine too.
Arthur was interrupted in his thoughts when he heard the front door open. He stayed right there at the table and didn't move a muscle, he knew perfectly well who just walked in, and he wanted more than anything to just attack him and get rid of him forever.
But he still hadn't moved an inch, as he heard footsteps of his husband coming up from behind him. Arthur kept his face as straight as he could even though his emotions and his mind were going crazy.
A bouquet of roses came up in front of him, effectively making him jump a bit, 'Those stupid flowers...I hate roses..' Arthur thought to himself as he took the roses, "Thank you Francis...their lovely." Arthur said without looking at Francis.
"I figured this was a wonderful way to apologize to you mon cher about my recent actions." Francis said as he walked to the front of Arthur and gave him a peck on the cheek before starting dinner. Arthur just gave a weak smile at Francis before it fell again.
Arthur looked over at Francis and saw the knife sitting right next to him while he was making dinner. His mind went blank as thoughts of killing the Frenchman once again started to inhabit his mind. Before he knew it he had stood up and was slowly walking over to the knife.
Before he could get too close Francis grabbed the knife and looked over his shoulder to Arthur, "Hm? What is it Arthur?" Arthur shook his head a bit as he came back to reality and said, "Nothing...I was just..thinking of a way to thank you..for the roses.
Francis gave a mischievous smile before continuing dinner. 'You idiot! You almost killed him...without even a thought of where to hide the damn body!' Arthur thought to himself as he went to go find a vase for the flowers.