Say Something Stupid
"Chill mom! I'm just going outside!"
"Outside where?" the Englishman asked persistently. Alfred's mind ran through a few filters, knowing that saying what immediately came to mind would probably just start Arthur ranting.
"To see Kiku?" He shrugged, hoping that was a good answer. It seemed to work, because Arthur nodded, though his arms were still folded across his chest.
"Can you pick up milk while you're out?"
Alfred nodded, shoulders relaxing in a semblance of relief. "Yeah, I can do that. You want me to buy it too?"
Arthur scowled. "Oh, just go!"
Alfred took that as his opportunity to bolt. "Love you!" he called back, getting outside before Arthur thought to start saying or doing anything else.
He was moving out to get some more space. Maybe saying it out loud had suddenly snapped some semblance of calm in the universe, because Arthur had gone from clingy to stifling in the span of a few moments. If Alfred had not asked, he would have thought that Arthur had somehow found out what he had planned.
"Mom? You hear anything about me lately... anything that might bother you or something?"
"No."
"Cool."
And just because of this newfound hobby of Arthur's which included always knowing where Alfred was, Alfred decided to go to Kiku's just so to avoid any drama which might ensue if he did not. Not a big deal, he liked going to Kiku's place. Even if the house could talk back. He was never quite certain what to make of that. Especially as it was Gilbert and Ludwig's grandfather.
Still, he found himself complaining about it to Kiku while they played Halo.
"Arthur's usually in my business," Alfred continued, sprawled as he was over the couch. It was very difficult to concentrate between what they were talking about, the game, and the fact Kiku was actually leaning back against his stomache. He was almost afraid to breathe, worried Kiku might suddenly realize it and then pull away. "Now it's ten times worse. He needs a life."
"He has a life," Kiku corrected him. "A lot of it involved raising you. Be easy on him, Alfred. He probably can tell something is changing – watch out behind you – and is not certain how to react. Why do you not just tell him what you are planning?"
"'cause." Because he wanted to make certain it was going to work out, first of all. But he did not feel like saying that to Kiku. Partly because he did not want a lecture and partly because he suddenly had a brilliant idea. "He needs a new – get behind me – hobby. Or someone else to bother. Like Francis."
He could imagine both Englishman and Frenchman pummeling him into a bloody pulp, but he was a doctor and he could deal with the mental image (though it was probably more realistic because he was a doctor...).
"What?"
Alfred grinned. "He's always telling me I shouldn't hold grudges. Time for Arthur to stop being a hypocrite!"
Kiku sat up and the contact was lost. Alfred groaned, especially as his character was shot in the face. "By... bother, what exactly do you mean?"
Alfred sat up, facing Kiku. "We should set Arthur and Francis up!"
And suddenly Alfred knew he had said something wrong, because he could practically feel Kiku radiating ice. "You... want to 'set up' Arthur and Francis?"
"Yeah!" Alfred nodded. Kiku set down his controller and turned toward him.
"Is there not a... different relationship you should be focusing on?"
"What d'you mean?" Alfred asked. Kiku sighed, standing up.
"Never mind, Alfred-san."
Alfred felt something within him deflate. "Shit, you're doin' that 'san' thing again. What did I say? You're not confusing me for Matthew again or something, are you?"
"No." Kiku walked off to the kitchen. "No I am not, Alfred-san."
"But you're still doing it! Kiku? Kiku! What did I do wrong?"
Kiku would not say. Still, Alfred knew he had a good idea. What was Kiku's deal?
Notes:
Alfred is a bit stupid sometimes. He should know better than most that Arthur would most normally respond with 'Should I have heard something about you that should bother me?' to a question like that. Really, Al? Really?
Coming from Kiku, his adding of 'san' is not always bad, but Alfred knows that when Kiku is both adding that to his name and being distant he has screwed up badly. Usually he does not know what he has done to deserve it however. Kiku never really explains.
iLudovicus does not break into conversations as much as iMarcus does. Just like the real people!
