He Tries, But He's Already Failed
Arthur had been uncertain that he had heard it right.
"When can I move in?"
"Good man!"
Actually, that was not right. Arthur knew exactly what he had heard. He had just been hoping that maybe there was another part to the conversation that he had missed. Which was why he waited near the open door and listened to the rest of it.
"Oh, and another thing! Don't tell Arthur."
Don't tell Arthur.
Arthur felt like marching straight in there and demanding that Alfred explain himself. But he did not. Because he was certain that he was not going to want to hear the answer. There had to be another way around it, but his mind could only focus on one thing.
Alfred was leaving him. There was no tea strong enough for that so Arthur went and made some coffee. He stared at the newspaper, trying to concentrate on the events of the world which had happened last week, but to no avail.
"Dad? I am going out to surprise attack Vash."
What have I done wrong? Why would he want to leave?
"With a snare. Then I will leave him in a tree for his sister to find him."
And why wouldn't he want me to know? We could talk this out, Alfred. You stupid, little...
"...are you crying?"
"What?" Arthur asked, quickly wiping his face with the back of his hand. "No... there was just something in my eye. What were you saying, Maddox?"
Maddox stayed quiet for a few moments. "I said I was going out to see Heidi." It sounded much too plain and simple for Maddox to have said it and Arthur must have just been staring at Maddox for he continued. "So as to make certain she finds where my snare caught Vash so he is not trapped in a tree all night."
"Well, dinner will be at seven," Arthur pulled the newspaper back up to his face and started to read an interview with the mother of some famous pianist which had gone missing over a couple years ago. In a matter of a few sentences (all what it took for Maddox to have left) Arthur slammed the paper back down on the table.
"Mom, I'm taking Matty out and about, so don't wait up!" Arthur managed to look over his shoulder to see the brothers heading out the door, Alfred pulling Matthew by his shoulder and Matthew's head turned to try and look back as he managed to slip out a hurried farewell. Arthur quickly got to his feet.
"Dinner's at–" he shouted, but the door had already slammed shut. Leaving him to stare. "Why do I bother?"
Arthur sat back down and proceeded to pour the coffee on the table without letting it spill off the edges. Then he called Brian and convinced him that coming and cleaning his dining room would be worth it, because Arthur was going to be too busy cleaning the kitchen.
When that had been accomplished, Arthur pushed the table over and went to clean up the kitchen.
Notes:
I do not think Arthur quite understands the concept of children growing up. Talk about a horrible case of empty-nest syndrome.
And yes, that article was about Roderich. Roderich is really rather spacey when it comes to real life. It is why he is still considered missing. Then again, you try finding someone in Hearth. Actually, just try finding Hearth. You know where it is? Yeah, I did not think so. The police do not know either.
