AUTHOR'S NOTE:
I'm so sorry for not updating this sooner! There's been a lot of stuff going on lately, so I haven't been able to write. I apologize for the short chapter. I should be posting more often on my wattpad account, though. My username is contaminatedxx. Thanks for sticking with me!
It was dark when he stepped into the room.
The blinds were closed, and the only source of light was coming from the door he'd just opened.
"Alfred?" The male asked tentatively, feeling the wall for the light switch.
When he found the light, he turned it on.
There was a gasping sound followed by the sudden flooding of light in the room. "Turn it off," a hoarse voice pleaded. Arthur immediately switched off the light and rushed to the side of his parter's bed. "I'm so sorry, love," he apologized, placing a light kiss on the other male's cheek. But, wait a moment. It felt like he had a fever. "Are you feeling any better today?" Arthur asked, placing a gentle hand on Alfred's forehead. He was burning up. "Fine," he managed to choke out between labored gasps for air. Seeing his partner in such a state was enough to bring him to tears. Luckily, the lights were off.
"You're going to be okay," Arthur cooed, stroking Alfred's face gently in an attempt to calm him down a bit. "Just take slow, deep breaths. You'll be okay."
He wondered if his voice was giving away that he was practically crying now.
"Hey, Artie? You don't have to cry for me..."
Apparently, it was pretty noticeable.
"I'm not crying, you bloody git." Arthur attempted to dry his wet eyes.
"Yeah you are. You don't have to lie about it for my sake."
He could feel a trembling hand lift and wipe the tears off of his cheeks. "I love you, and I'm not gonna give up without a fight. Okay?"
Though the lights were off, he could tell Alfred was struggling to give him an encouraging smile. "Okay. I love you too, Alfred. Is it okay if I stay the night here? Or do you want to be left alone?"
There was a momentary pause.
"I'd rather you go home," he said quietly. "I don't want you to be up all night with me. Besides, who'd take care of Eddie?"
Arthur chuckled. "Mm." Eddie was their fish they'd bought together about three months ago. Alfred wasn't as bad when they'd gotten him.
"Alright, then. Do you need anything before I leave?"
He shook his head.
"Okay. I love you." Arthur leaned over and kissed Alfred's forehead gently.
"I'm going to come see you earlier tomorrow at... three 'o clock."
"'Kay."
And with that, he exited the room, shutting the door behind him.
The light from the hallway was blinding compared to Alfred's room.
Arthur sighed, sitting on a bench placed next to the door. He seems to be a bit better than before, he thought. Maybe he'll turn out okay... All I can do is hope.
He felt the tears coming on again; before he knew it, he was sobbing in the hallway.
Several nurses and doctors passed by him without saying anything. Well, who could blame them? They probably had no time for trivial matters such as that.
After a about an hour or so of weeping, he'd finally gotten the strength to get to his feet. He was a bit embarrassed about breaking down like that, but he couldn't help himself.
Arthur walked down the hallway and into the elevator. He wondered if that nurse would still be around so he could thank her.
He pressed the button that said "1" and waited a moment before the doors started to close.
Just before they were completely shut, a shoved itself in between the sliver of open in the door.
"Excuse me," said the person who had put their hand there. They pried the doors open. "Sorry about that."
It was a man with wavy blond hair that fell down to his shoulders and broke out into gentle curls at the tips. His eyes were a soft blue, and his chin was studded with stubble.
"It's alright," Arthur replied in a monotone voice.
There was silence in the small box until the man spoke up in his thick French accent.
"You have a lover who is bedridden here, no?"
How could he know that? Arthur thought.
"...Yes," he replied hesitantly after a few moments of consideration.
"And you are wondering where I got this information from, no?"
This was weird.
"I guess so." His voice was a bit irritated this time.
"Well, let me introduce you to my latest invention."
The French man slid his backpack off his shoulders and shoved his hand into it after he'd unzipped it.
"I call her... Voir à Travers." He pulled a small, rusty machine out of his bag. "You look into the peeping hole right there, and point it at a person. Then, it tells you all about them."
Arthur cocked a bushy eyebrow. "Oh? I'd like to try it myself."
Before the man could even open his mouth to reply, a dinging noise signified that they had reached their destination.
"Here is my card." He held out his hand, a white card pinched between his fingers. Arthur could see that his fingernails were groomed despite his clothes.
He hesitantly took the card from the other male. His eyes picked up on the name "Francis" so he figured that was his name.
Francis winked at him as he exited the elevator.
"I hope to be hearing from you soon," he said.