(( Oh look, update! Ah, I wish this chapter was better, but I've been quite swamped with work and didn't want to wait any longer to release it! If you may, leave reviews as they're loved and appreciated! Enjoy!))
Alfred yawned, not bothering to cover his mouth. He had hardly gotten any sleep the night before, his back stung too much. He winced at the thought, a quick shudder getting sent down his spine. Did mommy really have to be that mean sometimes?
He let out a little sigh before focusing back on reality. His mother had sent him to the store to get a few things. He really didn't want to go, especially with the pain he was trying not to show. However, his mother didn't care. She threatened to get a frying pan and Alfred didn't stay to hear the rest of it. He had ran out before she could finish speaking.
The streets were gray and dull, he didn't live in the best part of town, or the country for that matter. America had some really cruddy spots, and he just happened to end up in one. What luck. He shook his head slowly, glancing around at the houses.
They all looked the same, as if they mimicked each other. Alfred imagined multiple families must have lived in them. They varied from white, gray, to black. How depressing.
"Well look who it is!" Alfred snapped away from his thoughts, blinking a few times before quickly turning around. He felt his skin pale as he noticed who was speaking. It was Feliciano. He had this real sweet innocent face, a pair of vibrant pink eyes, and a set of brown hair with a little curl that oddly stood out. Boy, Alfred knew he was in for it.
Feliciano was the biggest bully around town. Of course he didn't look it, but Alfred knew.
He had been staring out his window one day when he noticed the magenta eyed boy hunched over someone. Alfred wasn't sure what was going on since he couldn't hear, but he did notice the boy on the ground crying. He had a similar hair type to Feliciano except his hair was blond. Only when Alfred squinted his eyes did he realize why he was crying.
Feliciano had been holding a sharp object, which he assumed to be a knife, right over the blond. Looking closer, the weapon had crimson substance all over it. He watched as Feliciano lifted the knife above his head, if only he could have turned away faster. Alfred tried to avert his gaze, but still managed to hear the piercing scream of the boy who was struck.
"Hey!" A voice called out, snapping the red haired boy out of his memory. He looked up and his eyes instantly grew wide. Feliciano was closer to him than before, right in front of him for that matter. What did he want with him? Was he going to kill him?
Alfred could feel his heart begin to pound against his chest. "Can you talk or what?" Feliciano pressed, leaning in even closer. His eyes stared into Alfred's mind, like they were trying to read his thoughts and fears. The young boy began to feel light heated, taking a step back out of reflex. How old was Feliciano anyway? How much older than Alfred could he be while hurting others?
"You're making me impatient, stupid!" Feliciano eventually shoved the younger boy, grunting. Alfred fell backwards onto his rump, an apparent frown on his face. Although he was secretly glad the older boy didn't pull a knife out. He did crouch down though, eyes glaring into Alfred's once more.
"Where are you going?" He asked, probably knowing the boy wasn't going to space out this time. Alfred blinked a few times before taking in a deep breath.
"I'm going to the store," he whispered, hoping his nervous voice didn't give him away that was indeed scared. The two bodies stood frozen, gazing at each other for what Alfred thought was hours, until Feliciano rose and smiled.
"Hand over your money!" He cackled as he grinned down at the boy, a dark glint in his eye. Alfred gasped and shook his head quickly. His mother gave him that money! If he didn't buy what she had said, he'd be in for it! There's now way he could give it to him.
"I'm sorry, but I can't." Alfred protested, slowly standing up. However, he felt a sudden pain on his left arm. He whined and held his arm with his other, looking over to see what caused it. What he saw made his blood freeze in place.
Feliciano stood a step closer twirling a knife in his hand, "I wasn't asking, I was demanding idiota." Alfred glanced down at his right arm and noticed the red liquid pouring from it, boy did he feel sick. It took a lot in him not to vomit on the spot, he really felt like he had to.
"Now, let's try this again," the older boy began, "give me your money." Once again Alfred shook his head, refusing to even budge. He glanced around in a desperate hope for attention. Maybe if someone saw what was occurring they'd jump in and help right? Then again, he had a talent for being very wrong.
There were people watching all right. From the corner of his eyes, Alfred could see people observing from their broken down houses. There were even kids from across the street watching who looked older than both boys. They stared with little to no expression. Why weren't they helping?
"They never learn, do they?" Alfred gasped and had hardly any chance to turn his head before being pinned to the ground. He stared at the other boy above him, straddling him with the knife in hand. This was not good; if he didn't get the items his mother asked for, well he didn't even want to complete that thought!
Now Alfred was used to being punched, slapped, scratched, kicked and hit with that dreadful belt, but he had never encountered the use of a knife before.
How bad could it hurt? He wondered, and his question was soon answered. It didn't take long for the pain to reach him once he felt the sharp object piercing his left arm. He opened his mouth as he felt his skin tear apart as the weapon sliced downward. He wouldn't even have thought he was screaming, had it not been for Feliciano releasing the knife and covering his ears. He really didn't care either.
He tilted his head just slightly to look down at what was giving him so much pain. His usual perfect shade of tanned skin was now completely red on his arm. He felt disgusted as the substance continued to ooze out, running down the sides. Unlike his right arm, the blood refused to stop pouring out. A small pool was beginning to form under him, so he began to cry.
In a short panic from either the screaming or the crying, or maybe realizing what he'd just done, Alfred noticed Feliciano turn around and dart away. His body began to tremble as his arm become numb from the pain. He closed his eyes, only to open them to another face. Great, were the other kids going to take away the money Feliciano forgot to steal for himself?
"I-I'm so sorry about my fratello," a voice whispered lowly, crouching down. This new figure has blond hair that almost shaped like Feliciano's. He seemed very similar, but Alfred couldn't really think right now.
The boy reached over and Alfred flinched, thinking he meant further harm. He stared at Alfred's arm for a moment before sighing. He reached up and began taking off, what Alfred just noticed he had, a plain white scarf. It looked pretty expensive actually. A plain color, but beautiful all the same.
Alfred noticed he was whimpering and tried to stop, instead beginning to think. Who was this boy? Why did he look so familiar? Why was he helping him? Even Alfred knew at just five years of age, that the people in this neighborhood were corrupted beyond repair. The fact he was even in this position was just proof of that.
"You need to get home and clean this wound, it could get infected." The blond stated, beginning to wrap his beautiful scarf around the younger boy's arm. He was wasting that lovely cloth on him? Alfred couldn't help but watch with a new shimmer in his eyes. He didn't even know this boy, yet he was helping him. Never in his life, which wasn't very long, had he experienced someone caring for another person.
"I'm sorry for the short stay, but I must follow Feliciano! He must be off to some more trouble. Keep the scarf, okay?" The boy flashed him a quick smile before standing up. Alfred quickly noticed this and reached out with his less pained arm.
"W-Wai-" he was cut off by the older boy waving his hand quickly.
"Call me Lovino." He chuckled quietly and began darting off in the same direction Feliciano had ran. Alfred stood with his arm out, staring as Lovino began fading from sight.
Only when he noticed the slight limp in his movements did Alfred realize who he was. That was the same person Feliciano had stabbed before. Why was he following after him though? What was a fratello?
Alfred remained in that position for a few minutes before deciding he had to stand up. It was a hard thing to do with nearly no help from his arms to push him onto his feet. However, eventually he miraculously found himself on both legs and walking home.
He continued walking until he noticed his beaten down house ahead, weakly raising his right arm to knock on the front door. As the door opened he looked up at his mother and her eyes began to narrow.
"Where are the items I asked for?" She said in a quick and demanding voice. Alfred's eyess opened wide, he had forgotten all about the store at that point. "Get your useless ass in here!"
Alfred was pulled into the house, only to have a few moments to prepare himself for his daily beating. How he wished he could have run off with Lovino at that moment.