Hi everybody! Long time no see, eh? Anyway, I apologize for the uber late update...I'll try harder, I swear. New Year's revolution and all. :)
'Go on, just ask her,' Arthur thought as he stood in the elevator next to Viktorija, 'Taking her to lunch isn't too cheeky. Just get on with it!'
Just as the Englishman was about to open his mouth, his cell phone vibrated in his front pocket. 'Damn.'
He opened the text message that Alfred had sent him: hey bro meet me for lunch micky d's.
"Oh lovely," he muttered as he read it.
"Is something the matter?" the brunette asked, her brow furrowing in concern.
"Just Alfred wanting to take me out for fast food for lunch," Arthur sighed as snapped his phone shut and put it back in his pocket.
"McDonald's, I'm guessing?" the Lithuanian smiled knowingly, "You should go. Spend sometime with your brother. From the way that he talked about you, he missed you a lot, Dr. Kirkland."
"Really? He insulted me before I was here for even two minutes!"
"Maybe that's how he shows he cares. I'm sure Mr. Jones was only teasing you."
"I should really help you put these groceries away…" the blonde man suggested, nearly desperate for an excuse not to see his brother until it was completely unavoidable.
"Your offer is tempting," Viktorija said, "but if I've managed on my own before, I can manage now. Go have lunch with your brother."
The elevator stopped. The brunette quickly grabbed the bags that Arthur had set down and got off. Before she hopped off, she pressed the ground floor button.
"Have a nice time with Mr. Jones!" she called as the doors closed.
"Why the hell did I let that happen?" the man chastised himself after the elevator jerked to life.
When he was back in the lobby, he got out his cell phone and called Alfred.
"Yo, Iggy! Are you actually coming?" the American sounded boisterous even over the phone.
"I'm afraid I am. Miss Laurinaté did everything but throw me down the elevator shaft to persuade me, though."
"Dude, Tori made you? She is so totally awesome! Do I know how to pick 'em or what? Oh, and you're totally whipped by the way."
"What?" Arthur honestly didn't know what his brother was talking about sometimes. "Never mind. Now where is this McDonald's that you want to meet me at?"
"Just turn left after you leave the building and cross the street at the end of the block. It's like the second building over. See you there!"
"Yes, goodbye."
The Englishman hung up wearily. If only a short conversation on the phone with Alfred wore him out, how was he ever going to make it through lunch?
~oOo~
"So what were you and Tori doing when she forced you come eat with me?" Alfred interrogated as the two waited in line to order.
"We had just gotten back from grocery shopping when you texted me," Arthur replied, rolling his eyes.
"Oh," Alfred said , his face falling, "Is that all?"
"What do you mean 'is that all'?"
"I don't know. Did you take her out for coffee or something?"
"We've only known one another for barely two days Alfred."
"I've taken girls out for coffee before I even knew their name, bro."
"Well, perhaps I have more sophistication than you do, little brother," the Englishman retorted with a bit more bite then he intended.
"I'm sorry I don't understand the proper way to court a lady," the younger spat back, looking smug with his comeback.
"I'm not courting anyone," his brother replied through gritted teeth.
"Well, maybe you should hurry up and start before your goo-goo eyes fall out of your head."
"I don't make goo-goo eyes at anybody. And might I remind you that Miss Laurinaté has a boyfriend?"
"I never said anything about you making goo-goo eyes at Miss Laurinaté."
"You certainly implied it."
"Guilty conscious much?"
Arthur stood in a partially stunned silence. How in the hell did Alfred figure these things out? Don't misunderstand, he didn't have any of those feelings for Viktorija, but maybe he could get to know her better…
"Why did you even invite me here? You know I don't like fast food," the older man chided, crossing his arms over his chest.
"I don't know," his brother replied, "Maybe I just wanted to spend time with my big brother…"
The Englishman was again struck speechless. Except this time, he was more worried about how his relationship was with his brother instead of with his relationship with a woman he barely knew.
He was about to say something when he realized that they had managed to make it to the front of the line. This also reminded him that the two were in public and had been arguing rather loudly.
The brothers ate (Alfred a Big Mac, Arthur decided upon a side salad) in what was a rather tense silence. About halfway through his…salad, the older blonde looked at his brother and was a bit guilty at what he saw.
"You know," he said, trying to sound light, "this is the first time I've seen you eat a hamburger and be so glum about it."
Alfred just glared at him over the rim of his glasses. Arthur smiled awkwardly.
"Miss Laurinaté said that you talked a lot about me," he offered. Then when receiving the same response as before, he added, "Probably didn't mention how much of a mindless twat I was."
"That's self-explanatory," the younger finally replied, "Besides, you probably didn't tell all your limey buddies about your dickhead of a little brother."
"You'd be surprised, all the things I say about you," Arthur retorted.
The two shared an apologetic smile, neither one of them needing to actually say sorry to the other. Come to think of it, they never actually had a proper apology between the two of them.
"Hey, you said you went grocery shopping, right?" the American chirped, back to his cheerful self.
"Yes."
"Well then, I'll make you dinner tonight!"
"What exactly will you be making?" his brother asked tentatively.
"Hamburgers!"
"I should have known…"
I liked writing this chapter. Most likely because I could draw from real life inspiration from my little brother and myself. Except our arguments tend to go to blows before we make up...Thanks to everyone who reads this! See y'all next time(maybe)!