Prompt 23- Rain
He hadn’t seen it coming. He didn’t understand. Why would something like this happen? What had he done wrong?
These were the thoughts that ran through Arthur’s head as he stood there beneath the overhang. It was cold out, windy, and the rain was pouring down over the street, soaking everything to the core. He himself was drenched, water droplets dripping down into his eyes. But none of that mattered to him. All he could focus on, all he could see, was the boy standing in the rain before him.
“Arthur,” Alfred said quietly, just loud enough to be heard over the sound of water cascading to the pavement, “I’m sorry.”
“I don’t understand.” Arthur’s voice broke on the last word. His hands hurt from the force with which he was clenching them to his sides. “Why, Alfred? Why this? Why now?”
Alfred shook his head, his messy, wet blonde hair casting out water like a dog. His eyes, though still wide with the ideals of a child, narrowed and hardened. “I’m not a little kid anymore, Arthur. You can’t set up my life for me anymore. These are my choices to make.”
“I wasn’t setting up your life! I was protecting you, Alfred, can’t you see? The world is a cruel, hard place. You’re just a boy. You cannot-”
“You’re wrong, Arthur,” Alfred interrupted, his voice losing all softness and sharpening into verbal steel. “I am not just a boy. Maybe I’m not a man yet, but I’m not a boy. And if I can’t look after myself in the world now, how am I supposed to learn? It’s not like magic- I won’t just suddenly know how one morning when I wake up!”
Arthur stepped forward, out from below his protective overhang. The rain immediately soaked deep into his secondhand clothing. He held out his hands towards Alfred, fingers outstretched, pleading. “You don’t know what you’re doing. I’m older than you, I know when you’ll be ready! You’re not old enough yet.”
“Damn it, then when will I be? When I’m twenty? Thirty? Or do I not get to live my own life until I’m an old geezer hobbling around with a cane?”
“You’ll be ready when…” Arthur hesitated. He didn’t know. How could he? Alfred was only a boy. None of this was supposed to happen, not yet, not now. “You’ll be ready when I say so.”
Alfred’s mouth twisted downwards into a furious sneer. “See, there it is again! Everything is your decision. I’m not a kid anymore, Arthur. You can’t keep treating me like this.”
“Alfred-”
“No! Don’t you dare say this is all for my own good! It’s my life, Arthur. I’ll make my own choices.”
“You have no idea what you’re getting yourself into!” They were screaming now, Arthur knew, and they could attract so much unwanted attention, but he didn’t even care. “Do you know how much I shielded you from? The pain, and the torment, and the sadness? They don’t want you out there, Alfred! You’re not human! I’ve protected you from all of their hatred, all of their fear. If you go out there alone, they will tear you apart.”
“How do you know this? You’ve never told me anything about your past. How am I supposed to believe you when you won’t even tell me the truth about you?” The rain grew in intensity, and though they stood only a few feet apart, Arthur could no longer see Alfred’s eyes clearly. But he could still hear his voice, and the disappointment that threaded through it.
“My past has nothing to do with this,” Arthur growled. Lightning flashed above them. “You’ve trusted me for years, Alfred! Why are you stopping now? What happened?”
“I met someone. He showed me how good it can be, being one of us. He’s not afraid like you.”
The words hung in the air. Arthur staggered back a step as though he had been slapped. “You met… another mutant? Alfred, that’s dangerous! Don’t you remember anything that I’ve taught you? Other mutants are just as deadly as humans. Do you even know what he can do?”
“Yes, Arthur, I do.” Alfred glared at him, crossing his arms over his chest. He was tall now, taller than Arthur. “He’s a great guy. He would never do any of those things you told me about.”
“You don’t know that-”
“I do! Damn it, Arthur, can’t you believe me just this once? This is exactly what I was talking about. You’re smothering me. You don’t let me do anything. You don’t even trust me when I’m telling you the truth!” Alfred groaned and rubbed one hand across his face as if to wipe off the rain. “You keep asking why I’m leaving. This is it. This is why.”
“I don’t-” Something deep inside Arthur understood, and felt guilty. But that tiny part was so small and hidden away that he ignored it in favor of the anger and betrayal that was welling up inside him. “You ignorant brat. I won’t let you go!”
They looked at each other in silence for a moment, the rain pounding down, soaking them to the bone. “Don’t make me do this, Arthur,” Alfred said slowly.
“You brought it on yourself, boy,” Arthur snapped. “When you were younger, your curiosity was cute and harmless. But now… Now you are going to get yourself killed if someone does not set you on the right path.”
“The right path?” sneered Alfred. “Oh yeah, I forgot that the right path is the one where you hide out in alleyways all day and sneak around like a coward.”
Arthur gaped at him. “How dare you?” His hands clenched into fists as he stepped forward, his ratty sneakers splashing through the puddles littering the pavement. Thunder rumbled and the sky flashed. Raindrops pelted at the two of them as they stood there glaring at one another.
And then they were upon each other, throwing punches at cheeks and kicking at shins and knees. Arthur twisted his fingers in Alfred’s hair and yanked, and Alfred elbowed him sharply in the ribs. Bruises swelled, lips split, noses bled. Someone’s foot slipped across the wet ground, and they tumbled downwards, still refusing to let up. Alfred was stronger now, with the power of a wild beast hidden in his body, but Arthur was quick and nimble. They were evenly matched.
The fight drew on and on as the storm worsened up above. Arthur had lost one of his sneakers, and Alfred’s shirt was torn, and they refused to give in. And yet, even though it would have ended the fight immediately, neither one of them used their powers. Alfred stayed human. Arthur kept the magic out. Right then, they were really just two normal boys, scuffling in an alley in the rain.
But one of them would have to win eventually, and that someone ended up being Alfred. His ankle caught beneath Arthur’s knees, and with a surge of energy, he flipped the older mutant over onto his stomach. He kneeled down on Arthur’s back, pinning him to the ground. “You lose,” he gritted into Arthur’s ear, his breath passing through his lips in harsh gasps.
“You brat,” Arthur snapped through his own breathless panting. He knew that Alfred was right, though. There was no way he would be able to dislodge Alfred from his back like this. Unless… He could use his powers. He could summon up enough magic to throw Alfred backwards, and then pin him to the ground instead. The idea slowly grew in power, until Arthur was actually beginning to channel the energy into himself- maybe a little more than he needed, but still.
And then he happened to look back over his shoulder, at the young mutant seated upon his back. Except he wasn’t seeing the teenaged Alfred who sat there now, but the child, the boy with the beautiful blue eyes who had charmed him into taking care of two strange and happy children. The magic coursing through Arthur’s body fizzled and faded. There was no way he could hurt that child, even if Alfred had grown up. “Fine,” he whispered. “I lose.”
The words seemed to startle Alfred. “I- Yeah.” He quickly pushed himself to his feet and held out his hand to Arthur, obviously intending to help him up as well. Arthur didn’t move to take it, and after an awkward moment of silence only broken by the rain and thunder, Alfred let his hand drop. He stared down at Arthur, lying there on the wet ground. “I’m sorry.”
Arthur shook his head, slowly, slowly. “I could never hurt you, not like that,” he murmured. “Why? I don’t understand.”
“I’m sorry,” Alfred said again, his voice barely audible over the downpour. “I’m not- I’m sorry.”
There was no response. Arthur merely turned his head sideways, ignoring the water around him, and refused to meet Alfred’s eyes. Even without seeing Alfred’s face, he knew what it would look it. His heart ached deep within his chest.
Alfred’s feet shuffled across the wet pavement, and Arthur realized that he was walking away. He still refused to allow himself to watch. Everything hurt too much already. After a few moments, though, the footsteps halted.
“Arthur,” Alfred muttered. His voice, deep now, with none of the childlike tones Arthur was so used to, almost seemed to crack on the name. Arthur squeezed his eyes shut. “Arthur, you used to be so… big.”
Arthur choked down the sob that was threatening to burst free from his throat. He couldn’t cry. Not here, not now. He still had Matthew to take care of. He couldn’t let his weakness show. So he lay there, lightning flashing overhead, and listened to the sounds of Alfred’s footsteps as they shifted from the faint squeak of sneakers to the rhythmic clopping of hooves.
He was gone. Alfred, his friend, his adopted sibling, one of the few people he had ever brought himself to love, was gone.
“Arthur.” Gentle hands touched his face, and Arthur looked up to see Matthew’s wide violet eyes. “Arthur, come out of the rain. You’re going to get sick.” Matthew tried to smile, but it looked broken somehow, strained. “Come on.”
Nodding, Arthur allowed himself to be helped to his feet. A stray tear slid out down his cheek. It was all right, though- the rain would hide it, and he would pretend that this had never happened, that Alfred had never existed. He would keep on going.
And if he entered their makeshift shelter with swollen, red eyes, it was okay. Matthew said nothing. They ate the dinner they had gotten from the people at the food bank, and they went to sleep. The storm died down outside. It was a quiet night without the comforting sound of Alfred’s snores, but they would live.
They had to.
**
A/N- So there we go. I went with the obvious one for the 'rain' prompt, but it needed to be written anyway.
This takes place several years before the first fic. For those who are wondering, the other mutant Alfred met was Kiku. They stay friends even after they join opposite sides, though their friendship definitely becomes strained, and they have to meet in secret. Arthur still doesn't know.
These were the thoughts that ran through Arthur’s head as he stood there beneath the overhang. It was cold out, windy, and the rain was pouring down over the street, soaking everything to the core. He himself was drenched, water droplets dripping down into his eyes. But none of that mattered to him. All he could focus on, all he could see, was the boy standing in the rain before him.
“Arthur,” Alfred said quietly, just loud enough to be heard over the sound of water cascading to the pavement, “I’m sorry.”
“I don’t understand.” Arthur’s voice broke on the last word. His hands hurt from the force with which he was clenching them to his sides. “Why, Alfred? Why this? Why now?”
Alfred shook his head, his messy, wet blonde hair casting out water like a dog. His eyes, though still wide with the ideals of a child, narrowed and hardened. “I’m not a little kid anymore, Arthur. You can’t set up my life for me anymore. These are my choices to make.”
“I wasn’t setting up your life! I was protecting you, Alfred, can’t you see? The world is a cruel, hard place. You’re just a boy. You cannot-”
“You’re wrong, Arthur,” Alfred interrupted, his voice losing all softness and sharpening into verbal steel. “I am not just a boy. Maybe I’m not a man yet, but I’m not a boy. And if I can’t look after myself in the world now, how am I supposed to learn? It’s not like magic- I won’t just suddenly know how one morning when I wake up!”
Arthur stepped forward, out from below his protective overhang. The rain immediately soaked deep into his secondhand clothing. He held out his hands towards Alfred, fingers outstretched, pleading. “You don’t know what you’re doing. I’m older than you, I know when you’ll be ready! You’re not old enough yet.”
“Damn it, then when will I be? When I’m twenty? Thirty? Or do I not get to live my own life until I’m an old geezer hobbling around with a cane?”
“You’ll be ready when…” Arthur hesitated. He didn’t know. How could he? Alfred was only a boy. None of this was supposed to happen, not yet, not now. “You’ll be ready when I say so.”
Alfred’s mouth twisted downwards into a furious sneer. “See, there it is again! Everything is your decision. I’m not a kid anymore, Arthur. You can’t keep treating me like this.”
“Alfred-”
“No! Don’t you dare say this is all for my own good! It’s my life, Arthur. I’ll make my own choices.”
“You have no idea what you’re getting yourself into!” They were screaming now, Arthur knew, and they could attract so much unwanted attention, but he didn’t even care. “Do you know how much I shielded you from? The pain, and the torment, and the sadness? They don’t want you out there, Alfred! You’re not human! I’ve protected you from all of their hatred, all of their fear. If you go out there alone, they will tear you apart.”
“How do you know this? You’ve never told me anything about your past. How am I supposed to believe you when you won’t even tell me the truth about you?” The rain grew in intensity, and though they stood only a few feet apart, Arthur could no longer see Alfred’s eyes clearly. But he could still hear his voice, and the disappointment that threaded through it.
“My past has nothing to do with this,” Arthur growled. Lightning flashed above them. “You’ve trusted me for years, Alfred! Why are you stopping now? What happened?”
“I met someone. He showed me how good it can be, being one of us. He’s not afraid like you.”
The words hung in the air. Arthur staggered back a step as though he had been slapped. “You met… another mutant? Alfred, that’s dangerous! Don’t you remember anything that I’ve taught you? Other mutants are just as deadly as humans. Do you even know what he can do?”
“Yes, Arthur, I do.” Alfred glared at him, crossing his arms over his chest. He was tall now, taller than Arthur. “He’s a great guy. He would never do any of those things you told me about.”
“You don’t know that-”
“I do! Damn it, Arthur, can’t you believe me just this once? This is exactly what I was talking about. You’re smothering me. You don’t let me do anything. You don’t even trust me when I’m telling you the truth!” Alfred groaned and rubbed one hand across his face as if to wipe off the rain. “You keep asking why I’m leaving. This is it. This is why.”
“I don’t-” Something deep inside Arthur understood, and felt guilty. But that tiny part was so small and hidden away that he ignored it in favor of the anger and betrayal that was welling up inside him. “You ignorant brat. I won’t let you go!”
They looked at each other in silence for a moment, the rain pounding down, soaking them to the bone. “Don’t make me do this, Arthur,” Alfred said slowly.
“You brought it on yourself, boy,” Arthur snapped. “When you were younger, your curiosity was cute and harmless. But now… Now you are going to get yourself killed if someone does not set you on the right path.”
“The right path?” sneered Alfred. “Oh yeah, I forgot that the right path is the one where you hide out in alleyways all day and sneak around like a coward.”
Arthur gaped at him. “How dare you?” His hands clenched into fists as he stepped forward, his ratty sneakers splashing through the puddles littering the pavement. Thunder rumbled and the sky flashed. Raindrops pelted at the two of them as they stood there glaring at one another.
And then they were upon each other, throwing punches at cheeks and kicking at shins and knees. Arthur twisted his fingers in Alfred’s hair and yanked, and Alfred elbowed him sharply in the ribs. Bruises swelled, lips split, noses bled. Someone’s foot slipped across the wet ground, and they tumbled downwards, still refusing to let up. Alfred was stronger now, with the power of a wild beast hidden in his body, but Arthur was quick and nimble. They were evenly matched.
The fight drew on and on as the storm worsened up above. Arthur had lost one of his sneakers, and Alfred’s shirt was torn, and they refused to give in. And yet, even though it would have ended the fight immediately, neither one of them used their powers. Alfred stayed human. Arthur kept the magic out. Right then, they were really just two normal boys, scuffling in an alley in the rain.
But one of them would have to win eventually, and that someone ended up being Alfred. His ankle caught beneath Arthur’s knees, and with a surge of energy, he flipped the older mutant over onto his stomach. He kneeled down on Arthur’s back, pinning him to the ground. “You lose,” he gritted into Arthur’s ear, his breath passing through his lips in harsh gasps.
“You brat,” Arthur snapped through his own breathless panting. He knew that Alfred was right, though. There was no way he would be able to dislodge Alfred from his back like this. Unless… He could use his powers. He could summon up enough magic to throw Alfred backwards, and then pin him to the ground instead. The idea slowly grew in power, until Arthur was actually beginning to channel the energy into himself- maybe a little more than he needed, but still.
And then he happened to look back over his shoulder, at the young mutant seated upon his back. Except he wasn’t seeing the teenaged Alfred who sat there now, but the child, the boy with the beautiful blue eyes who had charmed him into taking care of two strange and happy children. The magic coursing through Arthur’s body fizzled and faded. There was no way he could hurt that child, even if Alfred had grown up. “Fine,” he whispered. “I lose.”
The words seemed to startle Alfred. “I- Yeah.” He quickly pushed himself to his feet and held out his hand to Arthur, obviously intending to help him up as well. Arthur didn’t move to take it, and after an awkward moment of silence only broken by the rain and thunder, Alfred let his hand drop. He stared down at Arthur, lying there on the wet ground. “I’m sorry.”
Arthur shook his head, slowly, slowly. “I could never hurt you, not like that,” he murmured. “Why? I don’t understand.”
“I’m sorry,” Alfred said again, his voice barely audible over the downpour. “I’m not- I’m sorry.”
There was no response. Arthur merely turned his head sideways, ignoring the water around him, and refused to meet Alfred’s eyes. Even without seeing Alfred’s face, he knew what it would look it. His heart ached deep within his chest.
Alfred’s feet shuffled across the wet pavement, and Arthur realized that he was walking away. He still refused to allow himself to watch. Everything hurt too much already. After a few moments, though, the footsteps halted.
“Arthur,” Alfred muttered. His voice, deep now, with none of the childlike tones Arthur was so used to, almost seemed to crack on the name. Arthur squeezed his eyes shut. “Arthur, you used to be so… big.”
Arthur choked down the sob that was threatening to burst free from his throat. He couldn’t cry. Not here, not now. He still had Matthew to take care of. He couldn’t let his weakness show. So he lay there, lightning flashing overhead, and listened to the sounds of Alfred’s footsteps as they shifted from the faint squeak of sneakers to the rhythmic clopping of hooves.
He was gone. Alfred, his friend, his adopted sibling, one of the few people he had ever brought himself to love, was gone.
“Arthur.” Gentle hands touched his face, and Arthur looked up to see Matthew’s wide violet eyes. “Arthur, come out of the rain. You’re going to get sick.” Matthew tried to smile, but it looked broken somehow, strained. “Come on.”
Nodding, Arthur allowed himself to be helped to his feet. A stray tear slid out down his cheek. It was all right, though- the rain would hide it, and he would pretend that this had never happened, that Alfred had never existed. He would keep on going.
And if he entered their makeshift shelter with swollen, red eyes, it was okay. Matthew said nothing. They ate the dinner they had gotten from the people at the food bank, and they went to sleep. The storm died down outside. It was a quiet night without the comforting sound of Alfred’s snores, but they would live.
They had to.
**
A/N- So there we go. I went with the obvious one for the 'rain' prompt, but it needed to be written anyway.
This takes place several years before the first fic. For those who are wondering, the other mutant Alfred met was Kiku. They stay friends even after they join opposite sides, though their friendship definitely becomes strained, and they have to meet in secret. Arthur still doesn't know.