In This Case The 'F' Stands For FAILURE

Today had gone badly. Quietly closing the door to his room behind him, he shucked his bomber jacket off and threw it across the room at his bed. I mean, nice job there. When are you not going to be an idiot today? As he was only thinking it to himself, no one answered, which was good considering what could have been the potential reaction. If he was Ivan or something.

Alfred went back downstairs to tell Arthur he had invited Matthew for dinner and then proceeded to do some of the laundry. Mostly because he could shut the door there and try and think.

Not about too much earlier... Okay, about Arthur and Francis. There was still something there, but was it worth going into? Yes, if at least for a resolution. Alfred had never thought too much about any mention of the Frenchman when he was younger. Hearing Francis' side of things prompted Arthur having to dispute it. Whichever side he decided to believe did not matter. All of those years ago they just split apart.

No notice of foreclosure before it actually happened.

They needed closure of some sort and Alfred wanted to give it to them. If just so he and Matthew did not have to worry about hearing complaints about their respective parent while visiting each other, especially if Matty was going to take his room and try and get to know Arthur better, let alone the wonders it would likely do for the both of them. It would not be fair to anyone if this was not solved.

Yeah, nice just Al. Just focus on other people's problems. You're good at that.

He tried not to think whether or not Kiku had seen through that statement. Was it too much to hope that he had not? Maybe? If he did not mention it...

Alfred's heart was like a roar in his ears. No good. He needed to calm down. Not think about it. People did not need the town doctor being a nervous wreck.

Leaving the laundry room, he came across Maddox.

"Woah, someone blow up a yogurt cup?"

"I hope so," Maddox responded easily. "Why?"

"Because you look weird." Alfred could not describe it. It was almost as if Maddox was about to smile, but he was pretty certain that was impossible.

"Weird in comparison to you," Maddox shrugged. It was not a real response and it did not make any sense. Alfred frowned.

"Okay then. Well, Matthew's coming over, so try and keep your tacks off of the extra chairs."

Maddox blinked, then rushed off. Supposedly to pick them up since Alfred had noticed they were there, not because Matthew was coming over. The man was weird. And appeared to have no incentive to move out of Arthur's house. Alfred wondered if that was just something that made himself weird, but he was certain most people wanted their own houses eventually. It fit in quite well with Maddox's way of belonging. AKA, not at all.

He answered the door when he heard the knock of the doorbell. "Hey Matty!"

"Hey Al," Matthew stepped in, Alfred shutting the door behind him. "What was up with earlier, eh?"

"Earlier?" Alfred asked. Matthew sighed.

"When you ran off?"

Alfred thought about it. "Nothin'," he lied. Quite convincingly, he might add. The other's eyes narrowed. "At all," he elaborated.

"Something happened with Kiku." Matthew said. It was not a question. Alfred felt himself deflate.

"I don't want to talk about it."

"You are so dense, Alfred."

Alfred wanted to defend himself, but that would require him asking what Matthew meant. And as Matthew went to greet Arthur and did not push the subject, Alfred did not want to start it up again on his own. Dense? Him? Dense like Antonio dense? Or dense like Ludwig dense?

Dense like mom and Francis dense?

He had no idea.


Notes:

I really appreciate just how much Alfred's character is America. Insisting to help out other countries when they really need to help themselves with things first. That is to be an American.

Everyone remember the knocking doorbell? I had almost forgotten about it. I still want one of those.

Believe it or not, I have found the perfect song for Kiku and Alfred (at least, for their portrayal in Hearth). Actually, DF found it, but whatever. It is the Vocaloid song, I Like You, I Love You. The lyrics are perfect for the both of them, obviously from Kiku's POV. So thanks for pointing that out DF. I will now never be rid of these two from my head when I listen to that.

Dear DeLurk: Just because everyone is invited does not mean everyone has to come. Just the important people who actually do stuff. Despite all of the weddings my family was invited to in my youth I never went to a rehearsal. Correction: the adults in my immediate family, despite how close they are, never did. If you do not have an immediate roll, what will you do? Sit there and watch everything? That was my thought to have only the people who actually had jobs (other than the job be there) being there. And I did not mention absolutely everyone who was there, just the ones that had something happen to them. Maybe other people have their rehearsals differently, maybe you are used to everyone who is invited showing up for the rehearsal. But I can imagine that the four biggest planners (Marcus, Sadiq, Elizaveta, and Feliks) would have preferred not everyone showing up.

As for Feliks and Toris, they live together because Toris left another terrible relationship and his childhood friend offered him an escape in Hearth. Staying with Feliks os not meant to be permanent, but it has never intended to be a short stay either. Toris was simply trying to get out of a populated place for some peace and Hearth is a small town. Definitely not peaceful, but I do not think Toris knew that. Then again, I do not think Toris minds by now about the lack of peace in this town as most of it does not directly have to do with him.