Alfred P.O.V.
"Alfred, I- I love you!" I stared at him shocked, my heart rattled against my ribs and I felt a burning sensation in my gut.
"You... Love me?" I asked nervously, hoping I had heard the blond-haired man correctly.
"Of course I do silly, now kiss me Alfie!" He wrapped his arms around my neck, pulling my head closer to his. Blushing, I lowered down to his lips, and just as we were about to touch-
BEEP. BEEP. BEEP. BEEP.
I jolted up in bed, bleary-eyed and mouth wide-open.
"Whu-Whuzat?" I stared at the alarm clock in frustration, before groaning out in anger. "I was so damn close!" I sighed and fell back against the mattress, rubbing my eyes. I had been getting these sorts of dreams all-week, but somehow I always ended up being interrupted!
Tuesday
"Oh Knight Alfred, how can I ever repay you?" Asked the man, holding his hands against his heart.
"Prince Arthur, all I need in payment is for you to kiss me, I need nothing more." I got on my knees and held my arms out longingly.
"Oh Alfie!" He rushed into my arms, and was about to reward me, when-
KNOCK. KNOCK. KNOCK.
"A-Alfred! It's me Ma-Matthew, I'm staying o-over remember?"
Wednesday
"Meow, Alfie, this isn't- meow, funny!" Artie-cat scowled, his tail curling around his right leg.
He was so adorable, I stroked his furry kitty-ears, and in response I received a loving purr.
"Alf-Alfie." Arthur's cheeks were burning red. "Ca-Can I lick you... Meow?"
And before I could answer he stuck his pink tongue out and-
"He-hey Alfred, I wa- wanna go get some pancakes, coming with?"
...
That happened the whole week, and I grumpily ruffled my hair recalling it.
"Damn, my brother is such a cock-block..." Well no, since there was no cock to be blocked, idiot. Groaning, I pulled the covers up to my forehead. Letting out a breath that I didn't know I was holding, I let my eyes droop and shut. Huh, wait... I'm forgetting something, aren't I? Is it someone's birthday or...
"SHIT, I HAVE WORK TODAY!"
...
Running into work, I ate some plain toast hurriedly. I'd probably get indigestion, but if I didn't eat anything I would be grumpy until lunch!
Checking my pocket, I was relieved to find some cash to buy a crappy meal from the cafeteria... But I guess a dull meal will be better than no meal. Running into the locker-room, I quickly pulled on my work uniform, and after making sure nothing was back-to-front, I walked out and made my way towards the reception desk.
"Ah," I grumbled, "I should have fell asleep earlier!" I rubbed my face in the hope that I could start this day over, I didn't want to be like this around Arthur after-all. Why did I have to play that game till gone two in the morning? I yawned into my hand, I was so tired.
"Oh, hello Alfred!" A familiar voice came from my side, and I turned to see Yao with the usual poker-face he does to people he doesn't really know... And me. Maybe he wanted to spend more time with his 'brother' and because of that he is annoyed that I had to come back.
"Hey there, Yao. How are you today?" I put on the brightest smile I could manage, which right now was honestly a challenge, since even the floor looked like a comfortable place to sleep at the moment.
Still with his emotionless-face, he replied:
"I'm alright, how has your week off been?" He didn't sound like he cared, but it was conversation so...
"It's been kinda boring, yanno, not seeing Artie and all." I rubbed the back of my neck and laughed. "Anyway, how has he been?"
The Asian man started to make his way towards the desk, and I walked beside him. I didn't have to check who I was with, for I knew full-well I was with Arthur. However, since we were still talking I thought it was probably for the best to go with him.
"He's been very happy, thank-you for asking." My eye twitched. What was that, that sounded cold man! That sounded seriously boastful, I'm not sure now if I am happy with letting him substitute on Arthur-duty! I shook my head, no- Artie was happy and that was the only thing that mattered.
"That's good!" And didn't continue the conversation any longer, for we had reached the desk.
"Excuse me," Yao asked, "who is my patient today?"
It was the robot-lady again, however today she had a smile on her face. Huh, what was going on, what?
She typed into the computer Yao's ID number, sparing little glances over to the Chinese man, before quickly turning back with a blush adorning her cheeks. No, don't tell me she-
"Aha! Mr. Wang," she began, then leaned over the desk, making sure her chest was in full-view. "Your patient today is patient number 12101992, block C."
I wanted to throw-up, this was totally gross dude!
"Thank-you very much." Yao replied, and without a single glance to the chick's jugs, he turned on his heel and started walking away, leaving a pouting receptionist who probably in her late forties. Oh man, I was so glad I didn't have anything to eat but that slice of toast.
Catching up to Yao, I informed him he had Ivan for his patient, and that I pitied him.
"I don't know Alfred, Yiwan doesn't seem that bad." The dark-haired man replied noncommittally. "It's quite strange that I got the same patient out of all the patients in this hospital..."
"Ah, don't worry about that. The doctors tend to do this when they think a nurse will work best with that particular patient, so for instance Artie is permanently with me as I did really well at calming him down when he was in distress." I explained, feeling proud of myself at the last part.
"Is that so?" Yao replied sharply. Whoa, those words were like daggers!
Rounding the corner, Yao grumbled a quick "bye" before running off down the corridor of Block C. I watched his lithe figure slowly get further away, before turning to walk down to Artie's room.
"Wow, it feels like it's been ages since I've been down here." I mused, looking at all the different doors that hadn't changed at all. I don't know what I was expecting really, a makeover? Well in that case they would make it even whiter than it is now. I winced as I heard a violent cry coming from behind one of the locked doors, and rubbed my head in annoyance. It was too early for this.
Finally I made it to Arthur's room.
"Still the furthest damn one away..." I sighed, before yawning into my palm and unlocking the door.
"Good mornin' Art-Oof!" I yelped, feeling sudden weight crashing into me and I fell against the hard floor.
"Ouch..." I hissed, rubbing the small of my back trying to relieve the pain, before glancing down to see Arthur lying on me, his cheeks red and unseeing eyes wide-open.
"Uh, Um..." Arthur mumbled in surprise.
"Artie?" I asked, trying to hide my shock.
Nervously, Arthur leaned forward with his arms outstretched and pulled me into an awkward, yet sweet hug.
"I missed you, Alfred." Arthur eventually said, his hot breath tickling the skin on my neck. I found myself smiling at this, and wrapped my arms around his slim waist.
"I missed you too, Artie." I grinned, settling my chin on-top of his head.
We stayed like that, savouring the moment. Before I parted from him, reminding myself to not get to full of myself. He probably doesn't feel that way, just good friends. Friends.
"We should head to the cafeteria, perhaps this time we won't miss breakfast?" He nodded in reply, reaching out for my hand. I took his hand, and couldn't help the surge of happiness which came with it. I forgot how soft Arthur's hands were, and despite being cold, they never failed to warm me up.
Arthur P.O.V.
"I can't believe we actually got to the cafeteria on time for once!" Alfred laughed as we left the cafeteria. I smiled, it felt like ages since I heard that amazing laugh of his. I wish I could see the way his face creased and those lips and-
Then I came to the realisation. I had never been frustrated by the fact I couldn't see until now.
"Oh hey Artie we need to- Hey! Why are you crying?"
I tilted my head down in confusion, and lifted a shaky hand to press against my cheek, and sure enough I felt warm tears. I was happy to take note that we had walked to a quieter part of the hospital, happy because no-one would be able to see this embarrassing sight but Alfred.
To my surprise, I felt his cool fingers touch my chin to tilt my face up, gasping quietly when some more of his fingers gently stroked my cheek. The American was close, his minty scent was clouding my senses and his hot breath touched my lips. I was too shocked to move, but part of me felt like closing the gap between me and him. Why, Alfred was just a friend, why did I feel this way?
Then I felt him move away, and all I wanted to do was reach out to pull him back.
"We need to go to your doctor check-up, we better get there quickly, we wouldn't want to miss it." The younger man's voice was stiff, unlike it's usual playful tone and I felt my heart weaken. Did I do something wrong?
I nodded, and reached out for his hand, only to get led by the shoulder. Did Alfred hate me now, what was going on? I wanted to ask him so badly, what it was that I had done to upset him... But I couldn't force the words out. The only thing I could do was in silence be taken to Doctor Laurinaitis' office.
"I'll be waiting out here." Alfred said emotionlessly, letting go of his already weak grip on my shoulder.
Biting my lip, I opened the door to the office.
"Ah, Arthur! Come in, come in. I am excited to hear your progress." Toris exclaimed, who's name I had now learnt from last weeks appointment. He shut the door behind me, and walked away, presumably over to his chair to sit down. Slowly, I made my way to the chair, hoping a patient hadn't moved it somewhere else. Thankfully, it was in a similar place, and I made myself comfy.
Alfred P.O.V.
I clenched my fists, and held them tight- in the fear that if I didn't, I would punch the wall. I let out a harsh sigh and squeezed my eyelids shut. I got too ahead of myself, I almost kissed him damn-it! The image flashed to my eyes, he looked so scared... What if he doesn't like me anymore?
I was so angry with myself, I wanted to yell about my stupidity...
"How can I confess to him now?" I asked no-one in particular.
I shook my head, no. I wouldn't be put-off by this, I would let him know my true feelings for him. I planned it all out in my head, first I would apologise for my actions and then tell him. I nodded, he needs to know. And so I waited, patiently outside Toris' office for Arthur to come out. I waited and listened out for that door handle to rattle.
Arthur P.O.V.
"Okay Arthur, I think you're doing better now. Like I said before, if you ever feel the need to cry, just do it. You tell me that you never felt pain in the past? Well, I think that you were just compressing your emotions, until it got to this point and this happened. So I think it's best to not bottle those feelings and just let them out." Toris explained, making his way to the door.
I got up, and nervously did the same action, scared that Alfred was still angry with me.
"Thank-you Doctor, goodbye." I replied, and gave him the best fake-smile I could and left the room, taking a deep breath.
"Ah Artie, how did it go?" The familiar voice, with the familiar bubbly-tone, and I let out a relieved sigh. Perhaps I was just over-thinking things.
"It went quite alright, Alfred." I replied, sounding some-what too happy.
There was a bit of a pause, before I felt my hand being taken into the others, and dragged outside.
"Hey- Hey Alfred, it's getting near lunch right, I think-"
"Hold on, Artie." And I got gently pushed down onto the usual bench. We always chose this place to come to, it was pretty isolated from the rest of the hospital, so not many people ventured here. Did he want to talk about something?
"Artie- Arthur... I realise that, despite being your friend- I don't know much about you, or about your past. And... I would really appreciate it if you told me, everything about you. From day one."
I was shocked, Alfred wanted to know my story? I only just remembered that I had never told him about my past... But I knew a lot more about Alfred. That was unfair, and I realised that I should tell him what happened.
"Well, I was born in Nottingham in England, twenty-two years ago. And when I was born, my mother fell ill. She recovered quite quickly, and we moved here to America. But then after four years, she got sick again, and died." I stopped for a few seconds before going on. "My dad blamed me for her dying, he probably didn't mean it, but he was so intoxicated by drink all the time that he lashed out at me and he did that verbally... And physically. I went through this for three years, before the sports education teacher saw my bruises and knowing that I wasn't a very athletic person he thought I was being bullied. He consulted me, and when I told him no-one at school bullied me, he soon enough figured out that it was at home, informing the police. It wasn't long after that they inspected the household, and sure enough my dad was taken to prison and me to an orphanage, at this point I was seven years old. They looked after me well there, but I was never re-homed. No-one was interested in the emotionless English-boy. At school, I was bullied constantly... The worst thing is that the majority of them told me to simply "go die". And then at the age of fifteen, Francis came into my life. He made me happy, despite appearances of us hating each-other. And one day, we were at a party when I got drunk and we... Kinda had sex. Without my consent of-course, but was I bothered when I woke up? No, I was thrilled. I just had sex with the guy I had eventually along the line fallen in love with. We started to date and it lasted for two years..."
I felt the American rub my back gently.
"I'm sorry you can stop now if it's-"
"No, I will tell you." The hand stayed on my back, and it comforted me, it really did.
"Two years later after dating happily, I was driving and I got into an accident. It was then I lost my sight, the doctors said it couldn't be fixed..." I paused, and chuckled slightly. "It's strange, because through all of those things I've told you, I never once felt pain. Nothing, I felt nothing. Until I told Francis I was blind... He told me that he was only truly with me because he wanted sex, and it was then he told me that he had not only been seeing me, but others. That's when I first felt pain, it was like a massive sneeze, you know? It just came out after being contained for all those years. I cried about everything, and eventually became so depressed that it led me here."
There was silence, as-if Alfred was making sure that was the end of my story.
"Thank-you for telling me everything, Arthur." He breathed, possibly taking it all in.
"I'm sorry it had to be so bleak, but unfortunately it cannot be reversed." I sighed sadly.
"Good." Huh?
"What's so good about it Alfred?" I asked surprised, that's a bit cruel isn't it?
"If you hadn't gone through all of that... I'm selfish to say that I wouldn't have been able to have met you Arthur."
I was shocked, he cared that much about me? I knew he cared from when he helped me with Francis, but he was genuinely happy to know me... Even though this is his job.
"I have a confession to make Arthur, when I started this job, I was angry. I wanted to do something different to this, I didn't want to work everyday with people like that, the thought scared me. And then one day, I got set to be your nurse and I wasn't so sure about it at first, but I have known you for a while now and, I'm really glad to know you."
"Al-"
"And I've been holding this in for so long Arthur, I really have, I can't keep myself from telling you now, it has been getting really difficult. I hope that it's not greedy to ask that we can still be friends when I tell you this but..."
"Alfred what is it?" I asked, I was nervous, what was he going to say? My heart-beat was increasing and my stomach was filled with butterflies.
"Arthur, I... I love you!"
YAAAY, the cat is out of the bag people, the cat is out of the bag. USUK IS A GOGOGO. UGH, so happy. Anyway, let's let the serious part start, sorry fangirl me.
Hello everyone, sorry I haven't updated in a while... But I went to London for the week-end, and we always got back to the hotel really late and my brain was too dead at that point to make something half-decent for you guys. But now I am back to my nice, quiet country-side home and I will be updating -hopefully- quicker now!