(A/N: School is starting to get hectic again, but I'll still do my best to get these chapters in on time. Now then, onward to the next chapter.)
CHAPTER IV
"M-Matthew?"
He jumped, whipping his head around to the sound of his name on someone's lips. All Matthew could make out was the silhouette of a person near…a counter? Without his glasses, it was difficult to decipher the blurry figure in the faint light, even while he squinted his eyes.
"Hey, hey, it's okay. I'm Alfred."
Trying to wrap his mind around the thought, Matthew was at a loss. Slowly, his eyes began to adjust to room, and he could see a person behind what was indeed a counter. Short blonde hair came into focus as his eyes narrowed more. "…You're the one who wrote the note?"
"Yeah. You took the medicine, right?" The boy nodded. "Okay. Uh, sorry I startled you."
Letting his muscles relax, Matthew sighed and replied, "No, it's okay. I just, I don't have my glasses with me, so I can't see that well. I guess it just added to the effect."
"Oh, well, uh, I have some extra pairs, so I could go get them and you could see if they work for you. How about that? Uh, here, you're probably hungry; have some cereal- wait, you need a bowl and a spoon and…just hold on."
While Al was searching for the utensils, Matthew grabbed a stool and sat on the side of the bar still in the den. After fetching another bowl, Alfred handed a spoon to the boy and poured in the Lucky Charms. "Okay, I'm gonna go get those glasses." He nodded and dug into the meal, realizing how hungry he actually was. It was a bit difficult to swallow with his aching throat, but the pain was worth it. The only things he'd eaten in over a day now were Tylenol pills, and those were never good on an empty stomach.
As the boy focused on the food, Alfred rushed upstairs, feeling awkward as hell. Seeing Matthew awake had stirred up his memories, and talking with the boy while recalling washing his skin was just too embarrassing. Not to mention the fact that all Al had on were a men's tank and boxers. It was August after all; the air conditioner was broken, and he was often overheated during the night. Well, Matthew apparently had bad eyesight, hence why Al was running up the stairs in the first place, so hopefully he hadn't noticed.
Alfred reached his room and threw on a pair of sweats before shuffling through desk drawers for his former glasses cases. Luckily, once his own grumbling stomach had woken him up, he'd slipped on his current pair, so he wasn't going to confuse them with the older ones. He hurried back downstairs to find Matthew happily chewing the sugary cereal.
"Hey, so I found these," Alfred announced, placing the cases down before taking a seat on the opposite him. The boy looked up from his meal and reached out to inspect them. In a sort of fascination, he opened and closed one of the cases, amused by the quick clap of its jaws. Then he took out the pair and slid them over his nose.
"Oh, these will work!" Matthew informed him, almost in childish surprise. "They're not perfect, but I can see pretty clear and they don't make me nauseous."
"That's good." Great, just what else was he supposed to say? Usually he was good at small talk, but now his mind was completely blank. "…So, are you enjoying that? If you want something different to eat-"
"No, no, no, it's okay." Matthew held up his hand to gesture so. "Any food is plenty. …Besides, I haven't had Lucky Charms since I was a kid," He smiled shyly, glancing at the bowl. Inside, he could sense the bliss bursting in light of his newfound freedom, but he held it in. Finally, he felt…human again.
"Really?" Alfred asked, resting his cheek on his palm as he looked at the boy in wonder. As much as he didn't want to admit it, Matthew was really cute…and a guy…but still so cute… "Hey, how old are you anyway?"
"T-Twenty-one!" he answered abruptly, dropping his spoon so fast it clattered against the porcelain bowl surface. Seeing how Al was a bit alarmed by his antics, Matthew felt his cheeks burning, unsure whether it was from the embarrassing outburst or his persistent fever. "I-I'm sorry; force of habit. Um, I-I'm sixteen."
"Wow, you're only a year younger than me."
Matthew was about to grab the fallen spoon and resume eating, but that last comment aroused his innate suspicions. Doubting every and any action, it was almost primordial to him. "…Why do you care?"
"Why?" Alfred wasn't sure he had an answer for that. He'd just been trying to carry the conversation and the question popped into his head. "I…I guess I'm just curious."
"Curious," Matthew reiterated, having trouble grasping the intent behind the word. His eyes widened, then slowly turned watery as sorrow flooded over him for the second time that night. Of course, how could he have been so stupid? This guy wanted something from him; everyone did. And there was only one thing people wanted from him. "Of course…of c-course…"
"Hey, wait, Matthew, what?" Alfred watched as the boy slipped off his seat and just stood there, as if he was unsure where to go, but knowing he needed to get away. "Where are you going?"
"Look, Alfred," he addressed him, stressing the name in quiet vehemence, "I'm not stupid. I know how I was dressed when you found me, and I know what you were thinking when you decided to bring me here. It's a-always the same with you people, isn't i-it?" Matthew could tell his voice was breaking as tears threatened to run over. Nonetheless, he continued, "W-Well I left the ring for a reason. I never wanted that life- I didn't ask for that life."
"…I don't understand. The ring?"
"As in human trafficking? As in- in s-sex slaves? Admit it, you- you thought I was some ten-dollar whore!"
"I-"
"So if you think you're getting a 'reward' for taking care of me-"
"Matthew-"
"T-Then you've got another thing c-c-coming!!" The sobs had returned to his searing throat, the bruises burning along with his constricted airway. If breathing hurt so much, maybe he should just stop… To be thrown into this situation just after realizing he was free…only to find someone else wanted to use him…
"Matthew," Alfred reasoned, raising his hands to show he meant no harm, "I'm not trying to sleep with you."
"Don't l-lie to me!! Why else would you t-take me in?!"
"…I just wanted to help…" Why did these words cut him? His blue eyes wavered, his heart burdened. He felt…defensive, as if Matthew was attacking him with lines and phrases, as if he'd done something wrong.
"Oh, s-so this is just some hero fantasy! You get off on 'saving' people! Was cleaning me up part of your fantasy?! What was my clothing, some souvenirs?! "
"I-I-" Words…words that inflicted so much pain…
"Well, look, thank you for you 'hospitality', but I'm going now. I have plenty of people I can stay with that won't rape me."
Matthew turned indignantly, trying to walk to the front door, but his legs went out from under him. No! he thought, bent on his knees, gripping the carpet fibers as his knuckles became white. Move! Move!!
"You're still sick," Alfred explained, walking around the counter to where Matthew now crouched on the floor. "You need to get some rest-"
"NO!!" the boy screamed as unfamiliar fingers touched his shoulder. He did his best to scramble away, trying to get as much distance between them as he could. Al could see the sincere terror in his distrustful eyes. "No, no, st-stay away. Please…p-please…I don't want this, I don't want this, I don't want this…"
He continued mumbling those four words, his eyes shut tight, as if it would block out everything and he could slip away. Even as Alfred drew closer and picked him off the floor to guide him back to the room, he wouldn't open them, his mouth emitting the same sentence. Detaching himself from reality to soften the blow, it was the only way he knew to cope. That and apathy, which he was already falling back into. Toris…I can't keep our promise…I'm sorry.
"Come on," Al told him, supporting his weight as he led him to the guest room. Surprisingly, Matthew complied, walking with him as his lips stopped protesting otherwise. He willingly climbed onto the bed and laid back, his wrists flat and facing upward on the pillow, his body waiting to be used. When seconds passed and Alfred was still standing beside him, Matthew reluctantly opened his eyes, slightly, his expression tired and puzzled.
"Matthew," Al tried to assure him in a soft voice, pulling the sheets over the boy, "I swear, I'm not going to do anything to you."
Soaking in the statement, his violet eyes became more lidded and he glanced to the side as a silent tear trickled down. "…How many times have I heard that these past three years?" It was a question neither of them could answer, and it lingered in the air as Matthew drifted off to sleep.
Exhausted himself, Alfred left the room and carefully closed the door, deciding it would take too much effort to trudge upstairs to his room. He'd just have to crash on the couch. Lazily pulling the blanket off the top of the sofa, he climbed onto the cushions and chose a square pillow to rest his head on. As he lay there for a few minutes before falling asleep, he thought of Matthew. Somehow, he'd been a part of a human trafficking ring, forced into prostitution, but he'd escaped. He'd honestly thought Al was going to rape him. The image of his terror-stricken face would always be burnt into his mind. Constantly plagued by the fear that people only want to use him, unable to trust anyone, always questioning another's motives…to think that was how the boy lived every day. The thought hurt him, much more than any of the piercing words Matthew had thrown at him that night.
