However, Arthur paid his presence only the smallest amount of recognition, just enough to reply “...No thank you,” before promptly forgetting about him until Alfred spoke again.
“Well, how about going outside for some fresh air?” he suggested.
“I’m fine,” Arthur replied laconically, eyes rooted to the same page he had been reading for the last two hours.
“Come on, don’t be so boring! Let’s do something!” Alfred tugged at his sleeve impatiently. It was not that he thought what he had dubbed 'the Feliciano effect' would work but he had never tried to be so obstinately cheerful before and one should always try new approaches.
“London,” Arthur muttered under his breath, snapping the book shut.
“Huh?”
Arthur frowned at him for being dense. “I want to go back to London. What happened to it after I was...” he trailed away. Neither of them really wished to recall those unpleasant memories.
“...Arthur!” Alfred breathed, hardly daring to believe what he was hearing. Arthur wanted to go back to London. That meant that he was worried. That meant that, surely, deep down he was still the same old Arthur! “That’s great! It would be a good idea to move now that they know where we are. I’ll talk to the others and make preparations immediately!” he cried enthusiastically.
“Thank you,” Arthur gave him the tiniest of smiles.
There really was a God after all!
“N - no problem!” Alfred cried, grinning from ear to ear. Arthur was smiling, Arthur had thanked him! Just seeing that made him feel as though he could do anything, could probably walk on top of a rainbow; he was feeling so giddy with happiness.
Alfred rushed out to tell the news to the others, failing to see that Arthur’s smile was edged with malice.
Re: If you find me...[14b/28]
However, Arthur paid his presence only the smallest amount of recognition, just enough to reply “...No thank you,” before promptly forgetting about him until Alfred spoke again.
“Well, how about going outside for some fresh air?” he suggested.
“I’m fine,” Arthur replied laconically, eyes rooted to the same page he had been reading for the last two hours.
“Come on, don’t be so boring! Let’s do something!” Alfred tugged at his sleeve impatiently. It was not that he thought what he had dubbed 'the Feliciano effect' would work but he had never tried to be so obstinately cheerful before and one should always try new approaches.
“London,” Arthur muttered under his breath, snapping the book shut.
“Huh?”
Arthur frowned at him for being dense. “I want to go back to London. What happened to it after I was...” he trailed away. Neither of them really wished to recall those unpleasant memories.
“...Arthur!” Alfred breathed, hardly daring to believe what he was hearing. Arthur wanted to go back to London. That meant that he was worried. That meant that, surely, deep down he was still the same old Arthur! “That’s great! It would be a good idea to move now that they know where we are. I’ll talk to the others and make preparations immediately!” he cried enthusiastically.
“Thank you,” Arthur gave him the tiniest of smiles.
There really was a God after all!
“N - no problem!” Alfred cried, grinning from ear to ear. Arthur was smiling, Arthur had thanked him! Just seeing that made him feel as though he could do anything, could probably walk on top of a rainbow; he was feeling so giddy with happiness.
Alfred rushed out to tell the news to the others, failing to see that Arthur’s smile was edged with malice.