Same Job, Different Time and Place [R-18] - Part 3

Alfred continued on panting, finally lying down as well and nuzzling close to Arthur. He just smiled lazily over at him, laughing at the memory. Oh, he definitely remembered their first time, no matter how intoxicated he was.

It was definitely a memory that was going to stay with him for the rest of his life.

Especially the fear that came with it the morning after.

"Yeah, but this time, I'm not worrying about getting fired afterwards," He mused with a soft laugh. Though he couldn't help but nod in agreement. "But yeah...though we didn't really last long the first time either." He soon reached up to stroke the hair out of Arthur's face, tired now.

Arthur frowned a little, “Why on earth would I fire you? Is that what you thought I would do?” he recoiled slightly before thinking that he was being a little irrational. “If anything, Alfred, I probably would have given you a raise so that you wouldn’t tell anyone.” He looked away, regretting it. “But that didn’t happen, so…”

He relaxed on to the bed, enjoying the way Alfred stroked his hair. He gave a loving smile.

“You must bear in mind that I hadn’t had sex for a couple of years. Stamina was not of my main concern,” he waggled his eyebrows briefly but realised that he probably looked ridiculous whilst doing so. He used his non-sticky hand to run his fingers across Alfred’s collarbone.

“We’ve come a long way, really. I mean, everyone knows about us now.”

Alfred laughed a bit, shrugging slightly. "Well, to be honest...yeah. I mean...we were both drunk and not only that, but I had sex with my own boss. I think it was a rational line of thought...you know, not wanting sexual relations in the workplace," He admitted with a soft sigh. He laughed more. "Where the hell is my pay raise then?" He asked with a quirked eyebrow, nuzzling against him.

He just smiled.

"Well to be fair...it wasn't my main concern either." He couldn't help the snicker when he saw Arthur waggle his eyebrows and he lightly slapped his shoulder. "You look ridiculous like that!"

Alfred relaxed. "Yeah..."

Arthur decided not to say anything to that. Although he silently mused at Alfred’s reactions. He winked at Alfred, having more-or-less forgotten about the trauma of earlier and started to grin.

He pecked Alfred’s cheek and climbed off of the bed to try and find the tissues in Alfred’s suitcase, feeling only a little bit ridiculous as the cold air got to his nether regions. He found the tissues eventually and cleaned up his hand, but he still felt like he wanted to go and wash it off.

As he stood up, he pulled on some boxers (again) before he rejoined Alfred on the bed. He didn’t hesitate to get beneath the covers.

Alfred huffed playfully. "No fair. I deserve that pay raise after all this time!" He whined though he really didn't mean it.

Though it would still be rather nice. Though with Arthur's income, it didn't really matter all that much. Instead he grabbed some of the tissue from Arthur and cleaned off his own stomach before stretching out a bit.

He was quick to climb underneath the sheets with Arthur, scooting closer to him.

"Love you," He murmured, nuzzling close to him.

“Hush, sweetheart,” Arthur tapped him on the shoulder in attempt to make him be quiet. He closed his eyes. Although giving Alfred a pay rise would have been nice, he wasn’t entirely sure how to go about it. He would have to convince Ludwig that it would be a good idea enough for them to disturb the head office. And Ludwig would definitely say no, seeing as they weren’t exactly secretive about the fact they were a couple nowadays.

“Love you, too,” he hummed, settling comfortably against his boyfriend. He was asleep within a matter of minutes, tired from their long day.

Alfred knew that Arthur really couldn't give him a pay raise which was the main reason why he was simply teasing the other about it instead. He knew that it was unfair and also not only that but Arthur was the one that he was living with. Sooner or later, they would mainly be relying on the other's income though he supposed they could also have his as a bonus. At least for the smaller things. It definitely wasn't amazing by any stretch, especially in comparison to Arthur's own but at the same time, it was still something.

He sighed softly, comfortable against Arthur as well before he finally closed his eyes. He fell asleep shortly after Arthur, feeling absolute bliss with the other in his arms.

He never wanted it to end.

Arthur was the first to wake, as per usual. He untangled himself from Alfred’s limbs, dressed himself and freshened up in the bathroom. He searched for Peter before he’d eventually given up. If the sod wanted to hide then so be it, it wasn’t their fault that Peter had caught them at it. He didn’t really want to think about what the kid had done once he’d left the room.

He eventually woke Alfred up after getting a scolding from Patrick for being noisy the night before (and a smack over the head for good measure). It was very much a case of the fact that they would have to be driven to the airport by someone else (Andrew, obviously) because they didn’t have the time to call a taxi.

Standing at the door, Arthur waited impatiently for Alfred.

“Look after yourself,” was Bevan’s parting words.

“You, too,” Arthur replied, mostly out of politeness.

Alfred was very unmotivated to actually get up and get ready for their long trip back to New York but he knew that he would have to do it unless he wanted to be stuck in England for a few more days. While the idea was tempting, he knew that he wanted a break from Arthur's family and just have time with Arthur himself in the end.

With a soft sigh and a yawn, he stretched his limbs out before finally looking over at Bevan and the others. "It was great meeting you all. Hopefully we can meet up again sooner or later," He said with a good natured grin.

He soon saw Peter hurry downstairs, looking over at Alfred with some embarrassment.

Alfred knew that Peter must have been a bit flustered from the night before though he soon knelt down more to the other boy's height. "Hey there. Thanks for all the fun, yeah?" He said with a small pat to the boy's shoulder. Peter seemed to gleam at that, smile bright.

"You better come again, Al!"

"I will," He promised.

“At your wedding,” Bevan agreed with a nod and got a slap from Patrick.

Arthur growled at him whilst turning a bright pink colour. “Shut it,” he ground out. He watched Alfred kneel beside his brother and rolled his eyes. He disliked seeing Peter being treated like a baby when he was far from one. He tactfully chose to be quiet, though. He knew that no good would come of it if he spoke up.

Although he did feel somewhat at ease with how Peter smiled at Alfred. He tried not to think about it.

“We’re going to miss the plane,” Arthur said stiffly and headed out of the front door to join Andrew in the car.

“Alright, we’ll be seein’ ya’, Alfred,” Patrick seemed to be trying to smile (like Arthur’s smile, it didn’t quite suit his face).

Alfred's own cheeks reddened and considering Arthur's reaction, he couldn't help but feel a bit at unease though he decided not to think too much about it. Instead he laughed a bit, scratching his cheek sheepishly.

"I'll make sure to invite you then," He joked.

Peter puffed his cheeks at that and before Alfred stood up, he grabbed the older man's shirt and pressed a quick, chaste, yet a bit too rough, kiss before finally pulling away. "You better come again!"

With that, the younger boy ran upstairs as quick as he could.

Alfred stayed there awkwardly, cheeks a horrible red as he tried to comprehend what the hell went on. Soon he stiffly stood up, muttering a quick and embarrassed good bye before hurrying towards the car.

It was probably a good thing that Arthur hadn’t witnessed what had happened between Alfred and Peter. He was sat obliviously in the car, waiting for his boyfriend to hurry up so that they could leave. Andrew was in the back, smoking out of the window as Arthur drummed his fingers on the steering wheel.

He glowered at the driveway.

“You know,” Andrew said, “You’ve changed.”

“Excuse me?” Arthur frowned, looking at his brother in the rear-view mirror.

“He’s changed you. You aren’t,” he paused to take a drag, “so violent anymore. Ah’m pritty sure that you would’ve kicked the shit out of Patrick the other day if pritty boy hadn’t been around.”

“So you want me to have kicked his teeth in? Mother would hate me even more.”

“Ay, I suppose but you definitely weren’t cuddlin’ on the sofa wi’ that French one.”

Arthur was about to retort something but he spotted Alfred heading outside and didn’t say anything, staring at his boyfriend (who looked incredibly flustered, and Arthur noticed).

“You’re red,” Arthur stated bluntly as the car hummed to life. “What happened?”

Alfred just came into the car and he scratched his cheek, looking a bit awkward though he soon buckled himself in. He had no idea what Andrew and Arthur were talking about earlier but he was pretty certain that he really didn't want to know about it.

He really didn't want to say what happened though all at the same time, Alfred knew they had that truth policy implemented. Even if it was for something as small as this.

"Uh, well. I think Peter might have a crush on me...uh...maybe..." He murmured, gazing out of the front window.

"...actually probably."

Arthur’s brow furrowed further, forcing himself to concentrate as he pulled out on to the road.

“He hasn’t stopped talking about you. So, ay, I think he likes you. Two Kirklands under yer belt now, eh, lad?” Andrew sniggered.

“Why do you think that?” Arthur asked, trying to sound calm. It was no competition really. This was a teenage boy who probably hadn’t ever kissed someone before competing against an experienced man in his late twenties. And Alfred loved him. So, why was he so bothered by it?

Alfred scoffed and rolled his eyes at Andrew's comment and instead he thought about it for a moment before swallowing. "I prefer one Kirkland under my belt, thank you very much," He stated as a matter of fact and he soon leaned against the side of the car, resting the side of his head against his palm.

"Uh, well...he kinda kissed me," He murmured.

It wasn't as if it really mattered though. Arthur was always the one for him and not only that but Peter was a young boy with just a small crush on him. That's all it was. Alfred and Arthur were in a deep relationship and he didn't want it any other way.

Arthur screeched the car to a halt; it was lucky that there was no traffic about in the country lane.

“What?” he looked across at Alfred, alarmed and somewhat outraged.

“Jesus Christ, Arthur, watch the road!” Andrew bellowed, having dropped his cigarette out of the window from how suddenly they’d stopped.

“R-right…” Arthur fumbled with the gear box before setting off again, wearing one of his deadly neutral expressions as he looked out of the front of the car. He wasn’t really sure how to react. He was angry with Peter, furious in fact. But he was starting to feel concerned about just how much something so petty was making him feel. It hurt a little. But it wasn’t a big deal. That was the problem.

Alfred knew that deadly neutral expression of Arthur's and he got a bit concerned. He knew that expression all too well and instead he patted his shoulder.

"Are you alright?" He asked quietly, obviously concerned for the other. He knew that this thing with Peter wasn't really a big deal but Arthur seemed a lot more upset about it than he expected him to. It wasn't as if Alfred enjoyed the kiss though he did find Peter's crush to be a bit endearing more than anything. It was simply a high school crush if anything.

He soon glanced away, looking outside the window and swallowing.

He would have to pay Arthur back for it later.

Arthur stayed like that for the rest of the journey. He’d been mostly silent, having chosen to put on some music rather than listen to the small talk that Andrew made with his boyfriend as he contemplated just how attached he’d become to Alfred. It didn’t seem healthy for one human being to rely and need another like that. Arthur hadn’t really thought about it since he’d admitted that yes, he did love Alfred. His feelings were impossibly strong; he ignored the majority of the things he hated about Alfred so much that he didn’t even hate them anymore. Anything about Alfred made him who he was and he loved him.

It was frightening to think that he’d allowed his heart to think for him rather than his brain. Was he really in the right relationship? What if he wasn’t really supposed to be with Alfred? If something as small as a teenager’s crush bothered him, then what would it be like if Alfred started to look at straight porn or Arthur caught him looking at other people (which he hadn’t minded up until that point – for the most part – because he did it himself sometimes).

Jetlagged and feeling emotionally drained, Arthur immediately removed his shoes when they arrived back at their apartment in New York and headed straight for the bedroom, wordlessly. How Alfred would interpret that, he wasn't sure. He hadn't been totally silent the entire journey there, after all. He'd indulged Alfred in conversation a few times for the sake of talking but his motives seemed quite vague and unclear at that moment in time.

Alfred knew that Arthur was bothered though he didn't know that it would bother him that much... It wasn't as if he was cheating on him with his younger teenager brother. He still loved Arthur with all his heart...so why was Arthur so down?

He was starting to feel emotionally drained himself. Extremely drained. Mainly with thoughts wondering just how the heck to make Arthur feel better and wondering why the other seemed so upset. He hoped that Arthur wasn't thinking bad things about their relationship...wasn't it obvious that he loved him with all of his heart?

Of course there were things that Alfred disliked about Arthur just as it was vice versa but they already confronted each other about those things. Or at least most of the things.

When they finally stepped into the bedroom, he sighed a bit and followed him in.

"Arthur...what's wrong?" He asked, worried and not wanting Arthur to be quiet anymore.

Arthur stopped in his footsteps and looked back at Alfred, blinking in confusion. He gave a gentle smile, although it didn’t quite reach his eyes.

“Nothing, my love. I’m fine, just tired.”

He sat on the edge of the bed and pulled off his jumper (leaving him in his shirt and vest, meant to keep him comfortable and warm but instead was making him hot). He undid a few buttons of his shirt.

“I fancy a cup of tea,” he murmured and stood up. He placed his jumper in the dirty laundry basket and headed out of the room, going straight to the kitchen. “Do you know where my copy of Moby Dick is?”

Alfred just watched Arthur for a moment before sighing softly, climbing under the sheets of the bed, thinking about what he could do to cheer the other up.

"It should be in the bookcase. I remember putting it there before we left to France." Now that he really thought about it, it really had been a long time since they had last been home. It was nice being home again...though of course Arthur seemed to be not in the greatest of the moods.

He just couldn't help but wonder what the hell he was thinking about...if only he knew.

He sighed once more and threw his shirt off, resting his head on his arms as he lazed about on the bed.

Arthur nodded in response to Alfred’s comments.

He went to boil the water for the tea before he started to look for his book; it was exactly where Alfred had said. He grabbed it and returned to the kitchen, where he walked slowly around the room in circles, trying to get into what he was reading. But his mind was racing. It wasn’t even about Peter anymore (the little shit).

It was much, much deeper than that.

Maybe he felt the way he did about Alfred because he was a source of sex? He hoped not but the sick part of his psyche might just…

He jumped as the kettle boiled and finished preparing the tea. He went back into their bedroom and put his mug on his side of the bed. He glanced across at Alfred once before he settled upon the bed, on his front as he started to try and read.

Alfred loved Arthur, with absolutely everything he had and he definitely knew that it was for so much more than just sex. It would always be for so much more than just sex. While the sex was definitely a lovely bonus to everything (though they haven't really had any recently), he knew that he was in the relationship for so much more than that. He was in it because of Arthur's love and his own love for Arthur, wanting to take care of him and have him as his own.

He sighed, resting his head against his arm.

He needed something to talk about...anything. He wanted to know more about their relationship though.

"...How do you feel about marriage?" He asked quietly. He didn't know why he was asking, well...actually...he did know why but Arthur always seemed so uncomfortable with it.

Arthur felt Alfred’s gaze on him and felt increasingly more uncomfortable. At the question, he dropped his book and gawked at him for a few moments. He quickly tried to recompose himself and set his book down properly, looking across at Alfred quizzically.

“M-marriage…?” he swallowed and found himself feeling evasive as he looked at the headboard, examining the material. “Marriage,” he said again, more clearly and (hopefully) in a more masculine way. “Um, well… I don’t really know. I don’t see that there’s anything wrong with it, if that’s what you’re insinuating?” he felt a little wary.

“I think that, for the right people, it can be a wonderful way to, ahem, show the world how they feel. On the other hand, it really can ruin relationships.”

Alfred's cheeks were red and he glanced away, shifting around a bit.

Fuck, well that was a bad conversation starter. It definitely made them both awkward though it also made his heart rush a bit. He laughed a bit nervously. "No...there's nothing wrong with marriage. I was just wondering was all. You know...random thoughts and all," He mumbled.

God, now he sounded so lame. How much more lame could he get? Maybe it was best to just lay in bed and sleep. He finally spared a glance over at Arthur. He was tempted to ask what Arthur himself thought about being in a marriage but he knew that would just make things more awkward.

"...I see..." He buried his face in the pillow now, red.