Took Him Long Enough
He was beginning to think that maybe Arthur had a point, those months ago during that party when they all confused Matthew for Alfred. Maybe the struggle to get to the point was not as important as the point itself. Maybe it would be worth it if he was the one to actually instigate it all.
It took that moment in Alfred's office, the man about to kiss him and then not, for Kiku to realize that he was a complete moron and the only reason he had come up with that explanation for Arthur was because he was so nervous at taking the first step himself. But why? He knew Alfred's feelings. Only a complete idiot would not know of Alfred's feelings (even if Alfred did not know Kiku's own, but that was besides the point). He was deep in thought about it.
"About time, aru."
Which was when Kiku moved to be deep in thought about it somewhere else. So he decided to save Alfred the trouble of trying to find something to distract his parent by seeing Arthur.
It had only been a little over a week since he had spoken with Arthur and Kiku was slightly disturbed to see the other's condition. The man looked absolutely exhausted. Kiku rather hoped it was not all over worry about Alfred, but knew he was fooling himself once more. Of course it was over Alfred. Most everything around Alfred was about Alfred.
"Long time no see, Kiku," Arthur said calmly. "Alfred's not here right now..."
"That is quite all right. I came to see you."
Arthur looked somewhat surprised and Kiku just managed not to wince at the guilt he suddenly felt. Who came to see Arthur now? Again, anything that happened around Alfred was soon enough about Alfred. It was not really Alfred's thought, it was just the personality he had.
"Oh! Come in then, come in."
Kiku did so, going through their usual ritual of visitor and host, yes for tea but no for anything else (Kiku could always find a polite excuse to save his taste buds) and ending up in the dining room, seated at opposite ends of the table, cake in front. Kiku had said no, but Arthur had insisted because apparently the man had accidentally said yes to take some cakes off of Elizaveta's hands. So they ate cake.
"Has everything been all right?" Kiku decided to ask. Arthur shrugged.
"As well as things usually are." Kiku did not believe that for an instant, but did not know how to mention otherwise. So instead he managed to get in a conversation to hear about what Arthur's brothers had been up to, his own stories about what Yong Soo had been doing topping it all.
It was about the time when Kiku was almost certain Arthur was finally relaxing when there was a rap on the wall.
"You left the door open," Francis mentioned, slightly awkwardly. If someone's presence could shoot laser beams, warp metal, and set things on fire, Arthur would have been doing it. The man just managed to pretend to cough as he looked away.
"Get out of the house, Francis."
"Arthur, I–"
"You heard me."
Kiku felt like he was really not supposed to be there. "I have to get back to work," he said, rising to his feet.
"Then you can show Francis the door, if you wouldn't mind," Arthur said through clenched teeth. Which was when he started coughing again. Kiku blinked.
"Are you all right, Arthur?"
"I've been better," Arthur responded stiffly, glowering at Francis. "If you wouldn't mind."
"But, Arthur, you really–" Francis began which was when Maddox showed up in a fire suit.
"Fire ants," came the man's muffled voice as he reached for what Kiku was beginning to believe was a flamethrower.
"Maddox!" Arthur shouted, but Kiku did not stick around to witness that confrontation, as it was none of his business. He would rather take Francis' lead and run out of the house. Only after the door was shut behind them did Kiku remember that Maddox would never set a house on fire and therefore it was just another one of his acts. Still, it was hard to remember what Maddox would or would not do when faced with him.
"Please tell me I'm not the only one," Francis said, gripping Kiku by the shoulders. Kiku just managed not to squeak, the movement taking him by surprise.
"I... do not follow!" Kiku ground out, calming himself down.
"Arthur's sick, isn't he?"
Kiku stared. Everything slowly clicked together. Typical Arthur, worrying himself sick. Kiku understood it well, because he was the same type of person.
"I believe so... When I see Alfred I will tell him."
Francis looked at him strangely, but then nodded, bringing his hands back to his sides. "Ah... yes. Yes, thank you." With one glance back at the house, Francis walked off.
Kiku had heard a few rants from Arthur about Francis, but at the moment Kiku could not believe any of them quite accurate. Despite being a lawyer, Francis obviously could care. Huh.
Shaking his head, he went to go find Alfred. He had only just arrived on Pacific Road when he was stopped once more. Today was turning to be somewhat strange.
"Kiku!" He turned around to see Vash, who had a hand up as if to wave him down. Hoping that Yong Soo was not in jail again for something, he walked over.
"Can I help you?"
Vash nodded curtly. "My house. I need it to stop calling people and bothering them."
iMarcus. Kiku sighed and nodded.
iLudovicus never was this troublesome.
Notes:
Holy crap, Yao! Did you think I had forgotten about him? Nah. He just... has not had a big role in here. Yet. I do not know, but he has only had one line. With all of the problems already, I do not know who all can get a bigger part then the ones I have already planned for. My apologies, I did really want to write more with him. I can only continue to write and hope my mind can place everyone into what I have planned.
Actually, it is a big competition between Kiku and Arthur about which one can come up with the most insane (but true) story. It usually comes down to talking about Maddox and Yong Soo. One of them is more insane, but no one is quite certain. It is a different sort of insanity, at the least.
Kiku works on the computer. What does he do? Everyone in Hearth would love to know the answer to that.
