Chapter V: The Long Run
The city had managed to fully come alive now. The streets were quick to become clogged with buses and cars, and shops flipped their signs to open while the sun penetrated the clouds dotting against the sky.
Arthur had lead Alfred away from the scene, going nowhere in particular other than away. Away from that terrible witch and those terrible memories that she'd stirred once more. Ones that now began to assault his mind all over again.
As far as they walked, Arthur still could not manage to will away the headache that had formed nearly the moment he came back after that final recollection. It throbbed as though someone had opened up his mind to be dissected and picked at it. Stirring around thoughts and memories until they reached a very special one, one that Arthur was very nearly sure he should not have seen.
It was that fact alone that led him to believe that whatever that last memory had been was not fake. He also felt he couldn't ignore how palpable the image was. That chilling feeling of goosebumps running up and down his arms, the anger of his boss and the minister permeating the room, and that odd draw to that crisp manilla folder, sitting simply on the desk.
A strong gust of wind blew through Arthur's hair and ruffled his green and silver scarf- an old hint of house pride he still wore. They came to a stop light, the blur of cars in front of them when Alfred broke the silence.
"You look a bit pale there, Art." he said, looking towards him while shifting on his heels. "Do you want to go sit down?"
"No. I'm perfectly alright and do not need to sit down." Arthur replied as the light turned red and the traffic seized for a moment.
"Okay." Alfred said as they crossed. "I need to sit down. It's been one heck of a morning, hasn't it? Almost as crazy as yesterday." he laughed dryly. Arthur nodded in agreement before burying himself deeper into the scarf.
Alfred lead him into the nearest hole-in-the-wall coffee shop he could find. Luckily it wasn't very far, as there was a cafe on nearly every corner. The place reeked with muggle-coffee, but was surprisingly quiet with the exception of a student typing furiously at a device, bags under her eyes and empty coffee cups, as well as the businessman and the tired looking woman behind the counter.
Alfred forced Arthur into a small table for two near the back of the shop next to a bookshelf and shed his bomber jacket. Arthur only sighed before unwinding the scarf and pulling off his jacket.
"Alfred, we've got to leave. I know where we need to be to fix this whole bleeding mess." he paused for a moment, glancing as Alfred pulled off his own coat. "I know how I can fix this."
Alfred ignored the I in his sentence. "Arthur, you're paler than a ghost, not that I've ever seen one, and while I'm just as excited to finally have a plan as you are, but right now you're not going anywhere." and something about the way he spoke, laced with concern and authority made Arthur pause and slump back into the chair tiredly, shrugging off his peacoat at last.
Alfred shot him a reassuring smile before turning to glance at the chalkboard of options. "Alright, Art what do you want? Tea? They've got about a dozen options so you're gonna have to be specific. I'm not a mind reader, ya know?"
"Don't call me that." he hissed, followed by a laugh. "Alfred, I don't know any of your teas."
Thankfully, he seemed to get what he meant after a moment and smiled again, really did he ever not smile? "Course, Art. Thur." He said, turning around and ignoring the venomous glare Arthur shot at his retreating back.
Once he was alone he let his eyes drift shut, trying to will his thoughts away from Alfred and closer to the task at hand. If he thought hard enough, perhaps he could open up more of the memory, although his dissected mind still throbbed painfully.
The ministry. He had to go back to the ministry. The thought of going back shifted uncomfortably inside of him. There was no way he could take Alfred there. They'd for sure be discovered, Arthur would certainly lose his job then, if he hadn't already that was, and Alfred would be oblivated.
Despite himself Arthur glanced over to see Alfred placing what was certainly a ridiculously long coffee order at the counter. He smiled fondly despite himself.
No, there was no way he could take Alfred there. But he would have to wouldn't he? No. It was too dangerous. He was sure to be discovered in a place teeming with wizards, they'd be able to pick out a muggle amongst themselves like a wolf in a sheep's pen.
The sound of a cup being placed on the table forced him to peer up, he blinked to find Alfred sliding across from him with a cup of coffee and a piece of cake, Arthur noticed he'd gotten him one as well. He'd never eaten so much muggle food in his life as he had in the past two days.
"Ya okay there?" Alfred asked around the rim of his cup. "Ever since she touched you you've looked a little off. What happened anyways?"
Arthur sighed but took a sip from the tea before answering, he grimaced. Muggle tea was not nearly as good as wizard tea.
Setting the cup down, he found himself telling Alfred everything he'd seen. Well, he left out the being thrown out of the house, or slamming against the school wall, but he delved into the scene at the ministry and what he thought happened. Alfred's face shifted from anger too shock, to confusion by the time Arthur was done.
Alfred shook his head. "I'm still trying to wrap my mind around the whole idea of wizards and magic and just as I start to get it, you shatter it all over again." he laughed, staring down into the last few sips of his nearly black coffee, his own reflection gazing back at him.
Arthur in turn nodded. "I do apologize. I'd probably think myself mad."
Alfred smiled. "Don't worry I'm doing plenty of that too." he leaned across the table to grin at Arthur. He felt his stomach flip. That bleeding grin. "I'm not sure I'd want to wake up if I was mad."
"Whatever do you mean?" Arthur asked.
"Well," Alfred began before gesturing around the room. "It's all so incredible. I've always wanted for something incredible to happen, a chance to be a hero, you know? And now I think I've found that. And I'm in it now. For the long run."
Arthur leant back from Alfred's penetrating gaze. Out of all the muggles to find him, too "tag along" as Alfred would say, it had to be this one. This annoying, persistent and utterly insufferable idiot.
Arthur looked away. "I've got to go back to the ministry. I've got too find that document and dispose of it before the Kontrabanda get their slimy hands on it."
"I've?" Alfred said leaning back. "Arthur, I'm not letting you go alone."
"Alfred, you don't understand, you can't go." Arthur watched as Alfred's expression fell. He sighed. "The ministry is absolutely teaming with wizards. They'll be able to pick out a muggle very easily and when they do, we'll both be in trouble."
Alfred slumped back. "Still, you can't go in alone!"
"I work there, I'll be fine!" Arthur countered.
"What about me?" Alfred said, his voice rising.
Alfred's anger was nearly palpable and Arthur at first slunk from it, he shouldn't make Alfred upset before he grew frustrated himself, it was ugly and burning but more familiar than the budding attraction for the muggle. A muggle.
"I am not going to be the one to put both of us in danger! You are not coming, you know nothing of my world Alfred." he shot back, both where standing now, but stilled when they saw confused glances coming their way, the lady pouring coffee had stopped, the entire shop quite.
Without another word Arthur stormed out, followed by Alfred. The moment the door swung shut however, Alfred pulled at Arthur forcing him to look him in the eye. Pride alone kept Arthur from looking away.
"What happened too not splitting up, Arthur?" his voice was soft now, laced with hurt instead of anger. "Not even twenty-four hours later and you're breaking the only rule we'd put down!"
Arthur forced himself to take a deep breath and cool down. "Alfred, I don't want to leave you but you can't go."
Alfred ran a hand angrily across his face. "What are we supposed to do then? Surely I can disguise myself. Do y'all just smell magic or something? I'm sure I could pull it off."
Arthur smiled sadly. "It's not that easy."
Alfred Groaned in a completely undignified way before running his hand back through his hair and turning back to face Arthur. "What if we went later, like at night. When there's not as many people there?"
"That'll only arouse more suspicion if we're caught!" Arthur pointed out, although his tone held less bite. He wasn't sure if he wanted to leave Alfred. Not in this state, if that witch came back, or even Ivan, he'd be practically helpless to do anything against it.
He turned back and rolled his eyes at the grin that had plastered itself on Alfred's face. It was never gone for long.
"Even you can't stand to miss this face!" he called after Arthur's retreating form.
"Sod off, Alfred!"
He could've punched him for laughing.
An:/ This chapter was really hard to write for some reason. I also apolgize about that coding mess the first time I uploaded this chapter, I should be more careful. But thanks for reading as always! More should happen in the next chapter, the story is about to really start rolling.
