If Alfred Just Admitted The Truth, A Lot Of This Story Would Have Been Less Dramatic

Because of the distractions which would likely cause problems later in the day, Roderich had asked them to show up before the procession to move the cake. Alfred got there early, because he liked to be on or before time. It made him feel like he was even more responsible.

...and there was that issue of his avoiding Kiku for the last couple days. Kiku might not think he was here, so that would be good. Yeah. Only by yesterday had Alfred thought that he could have totally played it off as nothing if he had gone to see Kiku the day afterward, like nothing was different or something. Which he could not do now, it was too late. Goddammit.

"Ah. Thank you for showing up now, Alfred."

"Huh?" Alfred blinked, looking over at Roderich. "Oh, no problem! Glad to help!" He might have thought once or twice about offering if he had seen the cake before hand. Not that he would not have offered up in the end, no! Of course he would, any heroic person would! He just would have thought about it for longer!

...not that he was very heroic. Avoiding Kiku? What if Kiku had missed it? What if Alfred only thought he was being obvious? Kiku was probably trying to ask him what was wrong, and Kiku was not the type of person to ask what was wrong, because he hated being too confrontational, and here Alfred was trying to keep away from him and making Kiku think he had done something wrong when in fact it was really all Alfred's fault...

But I can't face him. I'll let something slip. I don't want to mess this up, I don't want to loose him. He's my friend. He's my best friend. Who else can I geek out with and not get teased by?

Yeah, that was the difficulty of being the very young, geeky, football playing (not soccer, mom), medic major in college. That sort of failed with fitting in on any normal level. Not that he did not fit in. Everyone loved him, if not right off the bat, then eventually! He still exchanged e-mails with some of his other classmates and teachers and all of that, but...

I just didn't fit there like I fit here.

And he did not want any of it to become awkward. Though it is really late for that now, you moron.

"...you understand?"

"Yeah," Alfred nodded, before wondering when exactly Roderich had started talking. Shit, he had zoned out. Lost himself in his own mind. What had the other man said? Crap, I should ask for clarification...

Maybe it was current low that made Alfred feel terrible about mentioning how he was not listening at all. Maybe it was because it was Roderich and Alfred did not know the other as well as he knew some other people. Maybe it was for some other reason. Whatever the case, Roderich left and Alfred found himself hoping that it was not that important, staring once more at the cake.

"Sorry for being late, eh!" Matthew exclaimed, rushing into the room and to his side. "Had a little late morning..."

Alfred tore his eyes from the cake and looked at him. "I don't want to hear one word about Ivan," he warned. Matthew blinked, then flushed.

"I'm... I'm not that transparent, am I?" he asked nervously. Alfred grinned.

"See-through," he patted the other on the shoulder. "Ready to muscle this rowdy cake all the way downtown?"

Matthew stared at him, then at the cake. "That's not going to fit in your car," he said hesitantly.

"Yeah, plus driving up or downhill... not a good idea, not with so much cake." Alfred rubbed at the back of his neck. "We're just going to have to carry it."

Both of them went quiet and stared at the cake.

"This is the stupidest thing I have agreed to do, eh."

"I doubt that very much," Alfred respond, going to the other side. "Prop the door open, Matt. At least it will fit through there without too much hassle."

Something told him his arms were going to hurt in about fifteen minutes.


Notes:

Avoiding Kiku, Alfred? Something tells me that Kiku is probably steamed about that. Especially with his own confession attempts. Trying to confess to someone who is running away from you is rather difficult. Not that I know from personal experience, but I believe I can make the assumption.

Anyway, cakes made for fancy occasions to look fancy and all... often they are made so they can be divided into pieces for transport and put together at the site. Which was what Roderich was talking about – the easy way to dissemble it so it could be moved. Alfred seems to miss the easy way of doing things, does he not?