It was around 6pm that supper came around. Tonight was one of the common nights where Arthur and Alfred simply ordered food. Unfortunately, both brothers were gifted with the inability to cook good meals, nonetheless edible ones. Sometimes Arthur would make the attempt but it would almost always end in him cursing at a pot while Alfred dials up the Chinese restaurant five minutes away.
The owner of the restaurant had them saved onto his contacts so whenever they rang him up, he knew exactly what to cook.
It was that bad.
"...And then this fucking douchebag cut me in line! Like, bro, I was there first! I made sure to sonic dash from my AP history class to get there first!" Alfred rambled at the table, messily shoving a piece of orange chicken into his mouth. "So, he took the last chocolate muffin and I was left with a stupid blueberry one. I swear, I'll try again tomorrow but if that motherfucking–"
Arthur sighed, "Alfred... it's a flavored muffin. I'm sure you can buy those at any store in a two mile radius from our house. Just get one from there."
"No, Artie, you don't understand. It's a chocolate muffin." Alfred explained, his tone serious as if this matter really was important. "Y'know what happens when you're one of the only guys to have a chocolate muffin? People come to you. Y'know what happens when they come to you? They ask for food. Y'know what happens when they ask? You have an excuse to talk to them."
"So, you want to talk to someone? Why not just go up to them without a muffin?" Arthur questioned, a tiny smile upon his lips at what Alfred may be inferring.
"What?! No! I can't do that!" Alfred exclaimed rather aghast, his cheeks tinting a faint red. "I can't just talk to him—"
"Ah, so it's a guy. I'm guessing you have a crush amongst one of your classmates, yes?"
The teen's eyes widened as he let out a groan. Alfred never really could hide or keep things vague with Arthur. Arthur had the tendency to always get whatever he wanted to know from Alfred. Whether it was homework he didn't do, a crush, or a detention slip— he found out one way or another.
"Fine. Yes. I have a crush." Alfred mumbled, poking at his food now with a light frown.
Arthur let out a gentle laugh, bringing his cup of water to his lips to take a sip.
"Don't worry, I won't go to your school and embarrass you." Arthur cooed in a teasing way, flashing a little smirk. "So, who's this lucky gentleman? Is he one of your friends? Have I met him?"
Alfred rolled his eyes and slumped back in his chair in an annoyed way. And here was Arthur prying in for more information. The two brothers always annoyed one another in a way or picked fights occasionally. Alfred always grew irritated with Arthur's desire to know everything. Arthur grew irritated when Alfred had little care for his grades and how obnoxious he could get. Yet, at the end of the day, they always were the closest brothers. It was rare one of their fights or arguments would last more than a day.
"Look. His name is Ivan; he's in my gym class. We're... kind of friends. No, you haven't met him. That's all." Alfred grumbled, knowing he'd be teased and have this conversation brought up constantly from now on.
Arthur chuckled lightly, getting up from his seat to put his plate in the trash.
"Ah, alright. He sounds, from the very vague information you've given me, interesting. I would love to know more but I can tell from your lightly upset tone you wish not to elaborate further."
Alfred let out a little laugh, scraping the last bits of his food onto a fork and shoveling it in his mouth.
"Yeah, thanks. That'd be best." He said, licking his lips. "So, how was the hospital? You see any kickass life saving scenes?! Any bloody guys being rushed to the emergency room?!"
Arthur sighed, now starting to realize why Alfred wanted him to volunteer in a hospital in the first place. He wanted some 'epic' stories about the mind blowing cases and patients in there.
The Brit shook his head, going to the sink to start cleaning the few dishes that were in there.
"No, Alfred, I'm not volunteering in anywhere like that." This granted him a little 'aw' of disappointment. "Although, I do have to visit this one bloke every day. My volunteering duty is to be a visitor to a patient. That's it. Nothing adventurous or breathtaking or exciting."
Alfred tilted his head to the side, resting it against his hand. "A patient? Are they cool? Do they have like a bionic hand or leg?"
At times, Arthur really couldn't understand Alfred. He wondered if his dense and nonsensical mind was evident from him still being an adolescent or if he genuinely was that stupid. It was a wonder and a thought that constantly was brought to light in his mind.
"No... his name is Francis and he has a rare illness of a sort that makes his body weak. At least, that's what I gathered from it. It's quite pitiful. However, he seemed very pleased to have someone visit him so I suppose I shall be continuing my visits for however long is necessary or until his irritating remarks turn me mad." He responded furrowing his brows a bit.
Francis... Arthur had heard of patients and cases where they were bedridden and such from who knows what. Whether it's cancer, loss of limbs, broken bones or body parts, critical injury, etc. He was knowledgeable on various patients being restricted to staying in a room and staying in bed. Yet, with Francis, it was hard to imagine it.
The Frenchman looked just like anyone else, if excluding how he seemed just a tad skinnier than average. He had a full head of hair, a charming demeanor like someone who'd just come from a high up dinner party, and the ability to speak and converse as if he were in a coffee shop. Usually, patients were quiet and shy and their voice gave off their illness. Or, they lost their hair and they looked incredibly like whatever they had. Francis... looked almost normal.
"Hey, Arthur..." Alfred's voice broke through Arthur's thoughts.
"Yes, Alfred?"
"Mom and Dad would be proud of you for doing this."
Arthur froze where he was, hands mid scrubbing one of the coffee mugs in the sink. For at least a minute, the only sound heard throughout the kitchen was the running water in the sink. Arthur bit his lip before stiffly continuing to clean the dishes.
"Why do you say that?"
"Because you're being productive and going out of your way to help someone else." Alfred responded softly, eyes locked on his now empty plate. "They always were proud of us when we went out of our way to help the environment, mom especially. She always told us to put others' needs before our own. I think... they would be very proud of you for doing this."
Arthur felt his chest tighten a bit at Alfred's words, his eyes stinging with threatening tears. Would they be proud of him? It was hard to imagine it. Would they be proud of him graduating with a 3.8 and not a perfect 4.0? Would they be proud of him for just now getting off his arse and doing volunteer work at a hospital? It didn't look like something someone would be proud of. He only did it so he would have something to do. Not for anyone else's sake, solely for his own.
The topic of their parents always was a sensitive one. The only time it was okay to bring up was if it was Alfred or Arthur commencing it. Everyone else, as in close friends and family who lived in other states, knew to just leave it alone. They didn't want to upset the two brothers in any way. Alfred tended to bring up the topic more than Arthur though. He found comfort in grief when talking about it rather than trying to forget or suppress it. Arthur was different. He preferred to not speak about it and try to move on with life.
A little sniff was made as Arthur switched off he water. He raised his arm to wipe the few stray tears that managed to escape before turning back to Alfred.
"Come on, it's getting late," Arthur said after clearing his throat, deciding to change the subject, "Finish up your food. You still have some homework to do and I don't want you to go to school unprepared for your AP test tomorrow, alright?"
Alfred nodded, a tiny smile crawling over his lips as he noticed his brother's saddened tone.
"Yeah..." he said, playing along with changing the subject. "Besides, I'm still having a hard time remembering exactly what was traded through the Silk Roads and how ideas and cultures diffused throughout there. Sucks they didn't have Amazon Prime back then."
Both brothers had to be there for each other. No matter what they were there. Arthur aiding Alfred through his school and personal problems, making sure he stayed on task and didn't stray, and Alfred keeping Arthur in check and making sure his older brother was okay and moving along with his own life just fine.
"Belt up with that nonsense." Arthur scolded, "You mustn't mix your idiotic comments with the valuable information you really need to know. Now, ready to study?"
"Yes sir." Alfred responded, snickering at the added nickname as he dropped his AP textbook on the counter.
"Alright... Now, explain to me this, what increased the productivity and economy in India?"
"Oh! Oh! I know! The increase of manufactured goods and agriculture and the use of long distance trade! Hell yeah! I remembered something!"
"Ha, yes, yes. Good job."
Through thick and thin, they both were right beside the other, making sure they were okay.
A/N:
Oops. I didn't know how to end the chapter sooooo there.
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