battling bros 18

Chapter 18

Arthur woke up the next morning curled up on his side. The first thing he noticed was something heavy and warm wrapped around his neck and shoulder. Then the smell of a manly deodorant, "Does Alfred wear Old Spice?" whispered Arthur with a smile. Then he realized where he was, his eyes shot open, and he sat straight up. Arthur looked down, and there was Alfred sprawled across his bed, and apparently he had his left arm wrapped around Arthur. The sun peered in through the blinds and streamed across his golden wheat hair as he slept with his mouth open. Arthur's heart began to pick up speed at the sight.
Arthur shook off this morning dream, and looked at themselves again. Clothes, they were on. "Thank God, didn't think Alfred was that type anyways, but still I don't think I could live with that…" Alfred began to stir. Alfred stretched his arms, and rolled over, back to sleep, in Arthur's direction, hugging Arthur's waist as he did so, "I won't run Arthur, I'll save you….." mumbled Alfred. Arthur petted his hair, silly American.
Alfred smiled at the soft gesture and slowly opened his eyes, "You're up early…"
"Alfred were you there all night?"
"NOoooo…" yawned Alfred, "I was on the floor, but after about an hour my back began to kill me, so I figured you were dead asleep you won't mind. After the way you clung to my shirt the moment I got into bed, I was sure you wouldn't mind." Alfred began to sit up.
"I did no such thing…" said Arthur blushing terribly.
"Yea you did…" Alfred yawned again, "Anyways it's Sunday… I gotta go to church soon."
"You go to church?!" asked Arthur suddenly surprised.
"Every Sunday, one of the few Americans that still do, and I did so cause pops was in the army, and if anybody could keep him safe it was God."
"God…" scoffed Arthur, "I don't owe him anything. I've been living this hell, and praying for my own savior, and shit happened." Alfred stood up, and from that certain angle when Alfred turned around to smile at Arthur, the sun's rays beamed off his tanned face. Arthur looked at him with great curiosity, and thought to himself, "you've got to be kidding."
"Eh, what ever fight is between you and him, keep me out of it," laughed Alfred. Arthur shook himself back to his senses, "you act like he's a real person," Arthur scowled.
"Well, to me and some he is, to others they're not so sure, and to another group, he's about as mythical as a unicorn."
"Unicorns are real," yelled Arthur. This time it was Alfred's turn to be shocked. Arthur had a bright blush across his face.
"Dude, no they're not," said Alfred.
"Yes, they are. There has been sightings of them, and other fairy tale creatures!" Alfred cocked an eyebrow at this. Then there was a knock on the door, "Hey Al, *mumble mumble*"
"Who is it?" asked Arthur to Alfred. Alfred rolled his eyes. "Matt I can't hear you!" said Alfred.
"I said Mom made breakfast, and *mumble mumble*"
"Matt why don't you open the door?" replied Alfred. Mathieu opened the door on a crack and stuck his head in, "I wasn't sure if I'd be interrupting something…"
"Nah, we were just arguing over unicorns not being real," laughed Alfred.
"THEY ARE REAL!" yelled Arthur.
"ok…. What ever," Mathieu ignored the unicorn statement, and turned his attention back to Alfred, "look Al, I don't know if you've realized this, but how do you think mom and dad will react when they see the shape Arthur is in."
"Oh crap, I forgot about that…" replied Alfred. Alfred bit the end of his thumb in thought. Then when his head got an idea, "AH HA!"
"Do you have to be so loud," said Arthur rubbing his sore head.
"Matt here's what we'll do, that chair in the hallway, we're going to knock it down the stairs. Then at the bottom of the stairs Arthur will lay down like he just fell over it and tumbled down the stairs!"
"Once again you have impressed me Jones," said Arthur.
"Yea, but won't that break the chair?" asked Mathieu.
"It's an old crappy chair, I've been trying to get dad to get rid of for a while, we're just killing two birds with one stone."
"Alright let's do it,' said Arthur.
"Matt you go down first and make sure dad and Louisa are in the kitchen," said Alfred. So the boys carried out their plan perfectly. Alfred talked really loud, and the right moment when Mathieu gave the thumbs up, Alfred shoved the chair down the stairs. Arthur ran right after it, and laid down on his stomach next to it in the foyer. Alfred a split second later went running down the stairs shouting, "OH My GOD! ARTHUR!"
"What happened?!" asked George as he and Louisa came running from the kitchen. Arthur slowly got up holding his eye, "Got I feel like I got punched in the eye." Then Arthur pulled his hand away. "Oh GOD! Arthur honey!" Louisa helped him up, and began to take him into the kitchen to get ice for his eye. Arthur looked back at Alfred as Louisa doted on him. Alfred gave him a wink. George saw the chair, "Alfred what happened?"
Alfred replied in an exasperated shaky voice, "Arthur and I were talking and he turned to face me while still walking, and then next thing I knew, he fell over the chair and down the stairs." George looked at Mathieu who just nodded his head furiously in affirmation of Alfred's story. George looked down at the chair broken in pieces, "That was your mother's chair…"
"Dad, it's just a chair," replied Alfred, "I'm going to make sure Arthur's alright." Alfred and Mathieu went to the kitchen, were Arthur was sitting with ice on his face, and eating breakfast, "Your mom's an excellent cook."
"Why thank you sweetie," smiled Louisa, "Now you just heal up, and eat up ok?"
"Yes, Mrs. Jones," said Arthur with his mouth full.

After breakfast Arthur got a change of clothes from Alfred and headed home. The Jones family then drove to church. When they got there the earlier mass was just leaving. In that crowd of people Alfred saw Scott, his brother, and father. "I'll be right back," growled Alfred.
"Where's that boy going off to now?" asked George. Mathieu knew if he didn't' say anything Alfred would be pursued by his father, "Oh that's some guy from school. They're in that club with Alfred. It's fine…" George trusted Mathieu's words, and pushed his family to enter the sanctuary.
"Came here to pray for forgiveness, Scott!?" yelled Alfred, as he walked up to the Kirkland family.
"What's the meaning of this Young Jones?" asked Lord Kirkland.
"Don't worry about it pop, you guys head to the car. I think Alfred and I need a personal conversation," said Scott as he wrapped his arm around Alfred's neck. Patrick gave him a worried look. Scott gave his family his usual fox grin. Lord Kirkland bowed and continued to the car with his other son. Scott grabbed Alfred by the coat and walked him around to the side of the church, "Didn't think Americans were still church going people…" said Scott as he threw Alfred up against the wall, and pulled out a cigarette.
"I didn't know the devil could enter holy ground," replied Alfred ripping the cigarette out of Scott's mouth and tossing it on the ground, his eyes glowing with rage.
"So ,I'm guessing our messenger boy managed to deliver the message before keeling over," chuckled Scott.
"Yes, and he's doing just fine," growled Alfred.
"So, Jones are you going to stop racing?"
"No."
"You're really not going to stop? Well, knowing that that kind of treatment awaits Arthur, until you do stop, I must say I overestimated your caring attitude for my baby brother," said Scott with raised brows.
"No, you underestimated Arthur," replied Alfred. Scott's brows furrowed. Alfred continued, "I'm only going to keep racing because Arthur pleaded with me to. He wants nothing more than to see your pride trampled under the feet of my horse."
"Don't fuck with me Jones…"
"No, you're the one who shouldn't be fucking with me. Oh that reminds me…" Alfred wailed Scott dead in the jaw. This took Scott completely by surprise, and he fell over to the ground. " I told you, if you touched him again there'd be hell to pay…" Scott was on all fours staring at the ground as if he could set it on fire with his gaze it burned so intensely. Scott spit out blood into his hand, and when he looked down at his hand a molar rested there in his palm. Alfred kicked Scott onto his back, "You're not the only tough Scotsman here… Ever heard of the badass American pirate John Paul Jones? Yea, he's my great, great granddaddy," said Alfred. The usual happy go lucky American's face was replaced by a bloodthirsty scowl. Scott couldn't believe what he saw.
Alfred turned to enter the church. Scott couldn't believe it, "You're not going to continue?" Alfred turned to face him with that still angry look, "What's scarier Scott, that fact I'd beat you to a pulp, or the fact that I could, and didn't?" Alfred entered the house of God, He knew from that point there was no turning back. Alfred joined his family in the pew, with guilt preying on his mind. He prayed to God silently, "Please Lord, if my cause be justified, guide me, and protect Arthur, but if not, then strike me down at your earliest convenience, but still hold Arthur in your arms."