"All changing, now it's real, can't believe the way I feel. You don't know what you do to me."
It took three hours before Alfred was finally comfortable enough with his appearance to leave his hotel room.
He had taken the time to brush his normally unkempt blonde hair, to stress over what jeans didn't make his butt look huge and then to settle for a non-offensive t-shirt and to throw his Grandpa's old bomber jacket over his shoulders. It would have to do given the situation. He didn't want to end up seeming like a woman, taking forever to get ready for a chance meeting. And then he laughed.
Because hell, it'd taken him nearly three hours to get ready.
Not to mention the fact that he had yet to dial that number. Sure he'd saved it into his cell on the off chance that he lost that little scrap of paper, but he didn't have the guts to hit the call button just yet. Didn't want to seem too desperate or anything.
So it was at a relatively leisurely pace that he left his room and headed down to his car. He'd really lucked out on this one. Or maybe it was the fact that it was his Grandpa funding this sporadic trip...Either way, he really really liked this car, even if the steering wheel was totally on the wrong side. The interior smelled faintly of cologne and whatever it was that Arthur had been drinking. It was a pleasant scent that mingled there. Comforting in a way that it shouldn't have been.
He flipped the key in the ignition, grin highlighting his face at the low rumble of the engine, he'd just waste some time exploring London. Sure it was cold and dreary as hell...or not like hell since supposedly it was really freaking hot there, the weather was miserable and that's what he meant, it was still a really cool city though. Tall ancient looking structures even right in the middle of town. Probably a lot of them had some sort of historical significance or something other, but it didn't mean that he knew what they were.
They just looked so...cool. Like awe inspiring and all that. He was really glad that he had decided to come here now. Not only for the thrill of meeting that Arthur, but for being able to see another country. It was enlightening in a weird sorta way. Like he knew for sure that it actually existed now. It wasn't just words and pictures in a boring old history textbook, it was real. Like really real.
Different people with different lives. Different weather patterns, different buildings. It was like an entirely different world. Like last night, just seeing all those people walking around the sidewalks even in the frigid weather, all laughing and going about their business. Apparently the magic that was Friday nights worked in both countries. The freedom from work and school, (depending upon age of course), to just let loose and be whoever the hell you wanted to be for an entire night.
He drove without really thinking where he was going. Following the streets by random choice, turning when there appeared to be something interesting in sight. After awhile he stumbled across a street market of sorts. He found an empty spot where he could parallel park for a couple hours, locked up that awesome car and then began to wander about the numerous stalls. It was cold and a few flurries drifted down from the gray sky, but he could care less. People bustled about him, wandering from vendor to vendor, observing the little nick-knacks that decorated their stalls.
A particularly colorful one caught his attention almost immediately. It made him think of gypsies, even if they didn't really exist or anything, it was just the feel of it. Plus, those kinds of things had always fascinated him. From nowhere it seemed, a woman with bright red hair popped up just behind his right shoulder, she appeared to be dressed in some of the brightly colored wear adorning the stall. She grinned up at him playfully.
"Looking for something for your sweetheart?" She winked a lovely green eye at him as she flitted in front of his path. He grinned, feeling almost as if he was blushing, green eyes and that recognizable accent of the people, it made him smile. Made him think of Arthur. "It is almost Christmas, I bet we could find something perfect for them." Another wink and then she grabbed his hand and was pulling him forward.
"I dunno what he likes though." He hadn't meant to say it out loud, or at the very least, hadn't meant to say "he". Errgh, he could just hit his head against a wall for opening his big mouth. Surprisingly enough the woman only smiled at him again.
"Well I can find you something to intrigue him, it's one of my talents, trust me." She spoke without hesitance. How different from what he was used to. Any sort of saleswoman would have cringed at him having mentioned a man in reference to "sweetheart" back home. This place had just earned a few more bonus points for awesomeness.
"Thanks." He smiled then, in that unrestrained way that could attract anyone with a pure heart for miles around. Blue eyes flickered over the colorful merchandise, mostly technicolor scarves, bangly things. Basically, girlish stuff. Then, as he squinted his eyes he noticed a few things that mentioned the occult. Well, he shoulda guessed. They really were like gypsies. Sometimes he had the best luck ever!
"So tell me, what is your boy like?" That girl was speaking again, standing now alongside another girl who had appeared from nowhere. He felt his face flushing red, and took a moment to clear his throat. Had to get the thoughts all in proper order and such.
"Let's see. He's kinda...stubborn. Comes across as totally uptight when you first meet him, but he's actually really...spontaneous. Umm...you see, I haven't known him all that long, and well, let's see... He can't hold liquor very well, he has this totally jerky French ex who makes me wanna punch something, but I guess that's beside the point...Umm, yeah...so he's scared of elevators, he umm...Oh I don't know...Sorry, like I said, I don't know him that well...Or yet at least, I do wanna know him better. He's really sweet y'see, and kinda funny in a weird way. I think he needs someone to look after him, and I want that to be. And not just cause I want to be a hero or anything...Well I do, but still. I think he needs me, he just doesn't know it yet." By the time he'd finished speaking, Alfred found that he was out of breath. He also felt a little bit foolish.
The women exchanged a glance and then smiled at him. They had an oddly comfortable way about them, like they understood what he was trying to say. It was the same red-haired one that had first spoke to him that spoke again.
"I know just what he needs then, and I won't even make you pay for it." Her voice was smooth, soft.
"Oh I'll pay for it, wouldn't be right for me to not to." But he had a strict set of morals, he couldn't just take something from such nice women. People that were offering their help and advice. It wouldn't be a very heroic thing for him to do.
"Just consider it..." The woman laughed softly, "Consider it a heroic deed on our part." It was kinda strange, like she was reading his mind. Again Alfred felt as though he was blushing, now that she'd said as much, it'd be rude to turn them down.
"Fine fine, you have me cornered." He held up his hands in mock surrender, laughing just a little bit now. Sporadic acts of kindness, there was so much good in the world. "Thank you, by the way." The girl turned her back to fetch whatever it was she had in mind, so it was the other woman to speak. The one that had been silent so far. She had light brown hair and soft brown eyes. She looked sorta motherly.
"We can tell you have a pure heart. It's not everyday that a person like you wanders over to this area, tourist or otherwise. Don't be thanking us Alfred Jones, just keep that pure heart of yours open, it's the only way you'll succeed in your current endeavor." He stood there silently shocked, how in the world had she figured out his name? That blush on his face only deepened, she totally had to be a gypsy! As he opened his mouth to speak, the red-haired woman turned around with a small brightly colored package.
"My sister doesn't often offer such advice Mr. Jones, I suggest you take it to heart." She stepped forward and tucked the little package into one of his coat pockets. "Past and future collide on cold nights," she winked one of her pretty green eyes, "take care of yourself and remember us well." Again he opened his mouth to speak, but was distracted when the woman stood up on her tip toes to plant a kiss on either one of his cheeks. It took a moment for him to regain his thoughts.
"I will. Thanks. I really mean it, even if you don't want me to say it...Well really, thanks a million!" With a new level of exuberance he gave both of the kind, slightly strange women a tight squeezing hug. When he pulled away they both gave him a nearly identical bemused smirk. "Seriously, thanks!" And then he turned around and headed off towards his car, feeling that whatever had called him here had passed now.
He jammed his hands into the pockets of the coat, one of them idly fiddled with the package that the women had given him. It was kinda strange that he had no idea what it was, but he wasn't exactly gonna open it and find out. He'd just wait til he gave it to Arthur.
Whenever it was that it felt right to do so at least.
There was still a little bit over a week until Christmas. A little bit over a week to get to know him a little bit better, something he couldn't even do until he got up the guts to actually call that captivating man. He slid into the driver's seat of that awesome car and blasted the heat, letting it thaw his fingers as he pulled out his cell phone. He went straight to that number...The first one in the address book since it started with an A...Obviously...Man he needed to get his thoughts in order.
All he had to do was press that button, then he could hear that voice. He took a deep breath and did it.
It took three rings, but finally there was the click of the phone being answered. His breath caught and he found his greeting caught in his throat.
"Ello, ello." That voice was definitely not Arthur's. "Ello who is zis?" It felt like he'd just been punched in the gut. He may only have heard that voice once, but there was no mistaking that accent. That French accent. What in the world...He couldn't think...Couldn't breathe... "If zis is some sort of prank, you need to be stopping it." Funny, prank indeed. The phone fell into the floorboard of the car, flipped shut of its own accord.
The prank would be picking up a man in a bar, supposedly helping him confront an ex, sleeping with him, and then having his phone answered by that ex. Ha. Funny. Just freaking hilarious. This time the low roar of the engine echoed the sound in the back of Alfred's throat. Lame, stupid tears sneaked out of his eyes and began to trail down his face. He was such an idiot! He whipped out of his temporary parking spot and began to haphazardly head off into the direction he was sure his hotel was in.
He didn't want to roam around this city any more. He wanted to curl up on his bed with a cheeseburger or something. Maybe indulge in whatever was on British tv, anything to numb his mind. It was snowing a little harder now, or faster at least... Coulda been the speed he was driving at too. Much faster on unfamiliar streets than was logical. And then his phone began to ring from wherever it had fallen in the floorboard.
That loud, cheery ring-tone that he didn't particularly want to listen to at the moment. He took a quick glance at the street ahead of him, the nearest car was a decent distance away, so he quickly leaned down to grope for his phone. He felt it close to his foot, near the gas pedal, just had to reach it...It happened like it always does. The steering wheel pulled right on its own volition, the phone skittered and Alfred set up bolt straight as he tried to slam his foot against the break.
The phone. It had skittered behind the break, was blocking it now. Alfred swore as the car that hadn't been so far away was now a lot closer. He pulled drastically on his steering wheel, and then had to close his eyes. He was going to plow straight into some brick building, and there was no stopping it. The last thing he heard was that ring-tone as it came again feebly from beneath his break.
It was Arthur's name that scrolled across the screen as the world fell apart.