On The Force (Case 2) [R-18]

Of course Arthur would refuse his offer, the man never liked being waited on when he could be doing things himself how he wanted. It was almost amusing Alfred thought.

When Arthur's hand touches his cheek he raises his own to take it into his hand and squeezes it gently. "Everything's fine...or..everything will be fine as soon as he catch the bad guy. Right?" He asks almost as if second guessing himself. That was even more unlike himself. His confidence was slipping. So far he had been unable to protect those innocent people. What if he was unable to protect Arthur now?. It would be a worst nightmare come true.

He tugs at Arthur's hand once more towards the round table in the center of the room. "Let's sit down and go over what he know for the case hmm? Maybe we can find a breakthrough if we work together and..it'l be more private her than out at the desks. He finally lets go of the others hand only to turn and close the curtains on the window of the room before sitting down with an overly serious expression on his face.

Arthur nodded and quickly ducked out to retrieve the files from the filing cabinet next to his desk. Once back, he closed the door and seated himself at the table, spreading the documents out in front of himself. Alfred was right. The sooner they caught the bastard, the better.

"We know that he is targeting homosexual males," Arthur said, reading off a sheet that he'd handwritten a few days earlier. "He is skilled with a knife, and kills his victims by inflicting multiple lacerations and causing exsanguination. We also know that he is male, because he somehow has your mobile number and has been contacting you right before he makes his kills." He paused for a moment, before continuing. "There is also someone tailing one of us, someone who is looking to possibly blackmail us with those photographs. This may or may not be related to the murders."

He glanced up after he finished, fiddling with the edge of a file. "Do you have anything to add?" he asked quietly.

Alfred listened apprehensively as Arthur listed off the things they had known about the suspect for the killings. Now that he was listening to it all together it almost sounded obvious that they might be candidates for being targeted. It really shouldn't have surprised him like it did. What unnerved him the most was that Arthur said he contacted him right before the kills...and he had been contacted only minutes ago. Did that mean.. He shook his head to clear it. He had to focus if they were going to prevent any more murders. That was the most important thing.

What could he add..well there was a lot he could add but did he want to tell Arthur that. "Well, he threatened to keep going if we didn't stop going after him for one." Alfred said. It was part of the truth any ways. "He always sounds very calm like he's always one step ahead of us and he knows it. But how?..It would explain it if he was following us.."

Alfred cringed. Things were sounding worse by the moment how could he ever tell Arthur the truth..and even worse. What if Arthur found out and agreed to stop seeing Alfred. Just the thought broke his heart.

"Should we focus on figuring out how he got my number first? It might lead to were he got it from?" Alfred suggests. It's all he can think of to do. All their other actions have failed to produce results and he is very reluctant to have Arthur going back out into the streets with his face everywhere, it was like having a target on his back.

"I thought of that," Arthur said, shaking his head. "But it's no use. I haven't the foggiest idea where he could have gotten your number from. It's not online, nor has it been printed on any official police material." He really could think of any way that the killer could have gotten Alfred's phone number. Was the killer someone close to them, then? Someone close enough to already have Alfred's contact details. 

An awful thought suddenly occurred to him. What if... But that couldn't be right. It wasn't possible. But Matthew had Alfred's phone number, and he obviously disliked the thought of his brother being homosexual. The bodies had started turning up around the same time that Matthew came to stay. It all seemed to fit. 

But of course he couldn't mention it to Alfred. Not until he had solid evidence. If he incorrectly accused Matthew of being the killer, Alfred would never forgive him. 

"There must be something that we're missing," he muttered, shuffling the papers. "Something..." 

Maybe it would actually be a good idea to use himself as bait, he thought to himself. 

Alfred puled over some of the papers for his own hands to fidget with if nothing else just to give him the appearance of something to ponder over. He was trying not to be too fidgety but the boy was just plain bad at lying sometimes. He had too much of a innocent heart for it. He felt like if he didn't say something he might spring a leak somewhere.

So he looks up carefully at his boyfriend and partner across from him and hesitantly speaks. "Hey Arthur..what if ...just saying, the killer wanted for us to ..be apart?" He says awkwardly. It was obvious enough that the killer was against their kind of relationship but the idea of it being a problem specifically with them might be new to the other.

"Would that mean anything..to you?" He ask eyes trained down on the papers in front of him unable to face looking at Arthur before he knew what kind of reaction he might have.

Arthur looked up in surprise at his boyfriend's words. "What are you trying to say, exactly?" he asked slowly. Icy cold dread was pooling in his stomach and he hunched his shoulders defensively, looking down at the files. He'd always been expecting something like this, but for it to happen right now was... Rather upsetting. Arthur bit his lip and swallowed hard. 

"I suppose, if that's what you want..." He refused to allow his voice to shake. He was a grown man, he could handle the end of a relationship. Arthur clenched his fists in his lap and refused to look up. "Though you needn't make excuses, Alfred. If you wish to break up then I would prefer you tell me directly."

This was the day he'd been dreading ever since he'd agreed to date the American. Obviously what had happened in the car had been just that: sex with someone willing and available. Really, he was lucky that the relationship had lasted as long as it did. It had been nice to feel loved and wanted for a while, but he'd known that with his history it could never last. 

"Excuse me," he muttered, pushing back his chair and quickly leaving the room. He'd request a transfer immediately. Remaining near Alfred would only cause more pain. 

Well, that hadn't gone actually like he had wanted. Alfred quickly tried to reword what he had been saying but it didn't seem to be any kind of use now. Arthur had heard him all wrong! He held up a hand to try and stop Arthur but the other wasn't looking at him..again. That only irritated the American.

"No! Arthur I-..That's not what I want at all!" He says trying to divert the oncoming disaster. " I mean unless that's what you want then..I don't know! but this isn't about is breaking up! You've got to believe me that's not what I was trying to say!"

But the other man had already risen and was leaving the room. Alfred wouldn't have any of that. He stood up and tries to go after him, bursting out into the work lobby where all the other desks and officers were. "WAIT ARTHUR!" He called after him trying to catch up.

Gosh, how could he be such an idiot...how could both of them be! Alfred for not being good with his words and Arthur for jumping to conclusions like this. They really were both idiots.

All he could hear was a loud buzzing in his ears, drowning out all other sounds. Arthur felt like he was going to be physically ill. He ducked his head and continued over to his desk, gathering up a bunch of files and shoving them carelessly into his bag. A distraction. Yes, he'd take these files home and work over the case and distract himself because he really didn't want to think about Alfred and their failed relationship right now. His breath was coming in quick bursts and his chest felt tight, but he grabbed whatever else he thought he'd use and shouldered his way past Alfred and the other officers, quickly making his way outside.

There were still a few reporters loitering outside but he couldn't even bring himself to care. Arthur moved as if in a daze, carelessly making his way past the reporters to his car. He couldn't concentrate for the entire drive home and once he was inside he dropped everything just inside the doorway.

It shouldn't be affecting him this much, he knew. He was being silly. He had prepared himself for their inevitable breakup since the beginning. There was no reason to be upset.

With trembling hands, he quickly prepared himself an overly-strong cup of tea but deemed it still too weak after taking a mouthful. He reached up into one of the high cabinets and pulled out a bottle of whiskey, splashing a sizeable amount into his teacup. That was better. Arthur finished off that cup and made himself another cup of spiked tea before moving over to his living room table and spreading the documents over the entire surface. He wasn't useless just because of a breakup. He could still do his job.

Alfred was too late it seemed. Arthur didn't seem to hear anything he said as he chased him around his desk and was utterly batted off when he tries to step in front of him to keep him from leaving. This only irritated Alfred more of course and as he watched Arthur strut out the door determinedly he felt..angry. That was a dangerous thing to keep he knew but..he couldn't help it.

So once Arthur was out of sight Alfred slammed his own desk drawers shut, folding his papers and shoving them into his back pocket crumpling them horribly. He borrows a spare police cruiser to get home seeing as he had left his own vehicle at his apartment since he had been driving around with Arthur.

As he approached his door he heaved a sigh, maybe he should go chase Arthur to his house but...no that was silly. It was Arthur's own fault for taking his words wrong and not letting him correct him. IF Arthur wanted to assume they were breaking up then let him for now!

Alfred unlocked the door and opened it, everything seemed quiet. He called out for his brother wondering how he had been and suddenly feeling guilty for leaving him alone the last day or so. He closed the door behind him and threw his keys onto the table when he got no answer. He tried again.

"Mattie?..Bro are you asleep or something?" He asks and begins searching the house. Kitchen? No. Bathroom? No. Bedrooms? Nope....

Alfred panic only grew with each door left opened and investigated. His brother was not in his apartment. He tried to calm himself down. There was no evidence of a forced entry or struggle. Maybe he had just stepped out for something. He could have called a cab and went somewhere. Although Alfred knew the odds of this were on the low side. "I'll just...wait and chill out. He'll pop up before I know it I'm sure." He says to himself as he falls back onto the couch and tries to watch some tv. To be honest he had been looking forward to seeing his bro and talking about his problems with him like he always had done when they were litle and even now.

With no one to vent to though his frustration only grew. Everything on tv reminded him of Arthur, the stupid sitcom romances, the detective shows and cartoons about police stations, although the crime fighting dog was a nice distraction.

He waited and waited and soon..evening turned into night. He looked up with tired eyes when the clock chimed 2 in the morning. Where was his brother?...If he didn't show up he would have to report him missing but to who? He WAS the police.

Soon enough, Arthur stopped bothering to brew more tea and instead drank straight from the whiskey bottle as he pored over the documents. He didn't drink enough to actually become intoxicated, fearing that he would call Alfred or message him or somehow make a fool of himself. Instead, he drank just enough to numb his feelings, and was careful to cut back once he felt himself getting too tipsy.

He didn't sleep at all that night.

When morning came he was still hunched over the coffee table, still in yesterday's clothing. He'd taken off his tie and undone the first few buttons of his shirt, but was otherwise still fully dressed. Arthur knew that he had to go to work soon, but he felt completely drained. No matter how long he'd puzzled over it, he couldn't reach any conclusions that they hadn't already reached.

He buried his face in his hands, rubbing at his dry eyes. He hadn't cried -- not yet, anyway. Instead he reached over to the table and took another mouthful of alcohol, relishing the burn as it slid down his throat. The alcohol helped to steady his nerves, but he knew that he couldn't turn up to work drunk. He had to watch how much he was drinking.

A sudden knock on his door caused his hand to jerk, spilling a bit of alcohol on his uniform shirt. Arthur sat still for a moment, wondering if he'd be able to simply ignore whoever was at the door. But the knocking soon became frantic, and Arthur dragged himself over to the door, wrenching it open with a deadly scowl.

Alfred slept fitfully dozing on the couch and waking up as he felt himself tipping over onto the cushions determined to keep watch in case his brother came home during the night. It proved quite useless though as he sat through late night tv and watches the sun come up. Once it was glaring through his window he forced himself upright.

A glance in the mirror told him he was still in his uniform although he had shed his jacket and his shirt was open along with his pants fly. He straightened himself up as much as he could, hair a tangled mess and bags under his eyes, a impression of the couch cushion buried into his cheek from where he had slept against it.

He knew he technically had to report to work today but...so did Arthur. But Arthur wasn't the important note here..no. His brother was and there had been no further sign of him. The thought of it made Alfred's blood pump harder causing him to feel slightly delirious when combined with his scattered lack of sleep. He was practically pulling his hair out as he tried to decide what to do.

He knew he had to go somewhere, tell someone and that left him to his car outside in the parking lot. Once in the drivers seat he actually questioned it fitness to drive...and immediately pushed that thought away. One rational thought that did come to him was to call the security for the apartment building, maybe they had something on the cameras from last night. He phoned from where he was in the car and the news didn't turn out to be relieving at all.

Turns out there was something on the cameras..someone matching Matthew's description was seen being shoved into a blue car by an unknown man before it left the parking lot headed east.

This confirmed his worst fears and without another hesitation he started his car and drove to Arthur's. Once there he stood outside the door wondering if this was the best idea and coming up with nothing better. What else did he had to lose after all? He knocked impatiently and knocked and knocked some more until finally he was answered although not welcomed it seemed from the gaze he was getting from the other man.

He gave a half attempted smile at Arthur that sort of fell short and turned into a pained expression. "Arthur look, I know you probably don't want to see me right now but I've got a serious problem." He say pretty much inviting himself in and stepping through the doorway. He gritted his teeth as he spoke. "Mattie's missing...I think..he's been kidnapped by the killer!" There he said it out loud...it made it all the more real and Alfred could feel himself lose his voice slightly then.

"Of course I don't want to see you!" Arthur snapped, his expression cold. "Get out! This constitutes as trespassing!" He took in Alfred's rough appearance, and a tiny spark of hope flared up inside of him. Maybe Alfred was here to apologise. Maybe he, too, had spent all night agonising about the loss of their relationship. Maybe they could still be together for just a little while longer.

Arthur hated himself for hoping, and hated Alfred even more for what the American said next.

Of course this would be about Matthew. There was no way that Alfred had spent all night thinking about Arthur, of all people. Now that he thought about it, the idea was almost laughable. He remained stiff and stony-faced as Alfred blurted out what he'd discovered of his brother's disappearance. Of course it was selfish of him to want Alfred to put him first. But it stung to know that Alfred didn't even bemoan the loss of such a good relationship.

He didn't want Alfred anywhere near him right now. He wanted Alfred to leave, right now, Matthew and the case and everything be damned. He wanted to hurt Alfred as much as he'd been hurt, to drive him away so that he wouldn't ever have to think about the beautiful man any longer. They were over.

"Did you ever think that maybe Matthew is the killer?" he shouted hoarsely as he lost control of his emotions. He shoved Alfred backwards, away from him, and gestured wildly. "It all fits, doesn't it? The timing, his dislike of me as your b-- exboyfriend, the fact that he has your number?"

Alfred ignored the jab about trespassing and moved further into Arthur's place pacing about around the room and never stopping almost fidgety. He watched Arthur's face as he told him the news and much to his disappointment the other didn't seem to care in the least bit. He knew Arthur and his brother hadn't gotten along well but he thought that at least he might be concerned for the safety of another living person. How heartless could Arthur pretend to be!

He was just about to insist that Arthur say something when he was shoved and yelled at quite suddenly. Arthur actually pushed him harder than he had ever seen him be with anyone and Alfred stumbles back a few feet. Perhaps that combined with the fact that he wasn't completely together made him trip and fall over the arm of the couch. The landing isn't hard but the blow from the words he hears is. It takes him a long moment staring up at the ceiling to fulling understand what Arthur has just said.

When he does though he becomes very very angry. He lets go of all the frustration he has been packing away the last few days and stands up to his full height looming over the shorter man a bit. "Don't you dare accuse my brother of being a murderer! He's an honor student and practically as innocent as a saint!" Ok that last one was a bit of a exaggeration but when someone is throwing accusations about his family he can tend to stretch things a bit. "You'd sure like it to be him though wouldn't you? Then you'd have me all to yourself..except no not anymore cause your stupid enough to think I broke up with you when I was just trying to tell you something important about the case!"

He jabs a finger at Arthur's chest really letting out everything he's been wanting to say for the past few weeks only in probably the worse way possible but once he's started he feels like he can't stop until he's had his say. "The killer was threatening me this whole time. That we should stop chasing him AND stop being together or he'd keep killing. I refused to be apart from you but...ya know what maybe he was right!"

Even as he says it he regrets it covering his mouth with ah hand but he won't take his words back. He just bites his lip and look away, turning his back suddenly.

Arthur couldn't help but flinch slightly from Alfred's anger. He'd never seen the man so enraged before. His heart was hammering away in his chest, and for a moment he was afraid that the other man would lash out at him physically. When Alfred turned away, Arthur let out a breath and opened his mouth, intent on shouting back just as loudly.

"Maybe you should have listened to him, then!" he shouted, giving Alfred another shove. "You would have kept those people alive, but instead they died... for what? What did we even have, anyway? Are you sure you didn't just want the sex? We work together, so you'd have easy access at all times, just like when you bent me over the back seat of my car and fucked me like a whore!"

He was breathing heavily now, his trembling hands balled up into fists at his sides.

"You always say that you're such a hero, but you're just an immature brat! You refuse to even consider anything that you don't like, even if it means that more people are going to die! Just because he's your family, doesn't mean that he isn't capable of killing people! You take advantage of people and act like you care when you really don't. You think that just because I have a reputation for being easy, it won't matter if you fuck me a few times to get a feel for it, right? But you know what? At least I'm an accomplished officer, despite everything. You're just a mall cop who got lucky!"

He wasn't even sure what he was saying now. He just wanted to hurt Alfred. He wanted to hate him -- but despite everything, he couldn't.

Alfred had thought that it would be over now but it seemed that Arthur had not had his fill of yelling yet. He was shoved again and this time Alfred shoved right back even though it hurt him to do so. "How can you say that when I've given so much to you!" He says sounding hurt. "Before I met you I hadn't even had my first kiss let alone anything else! So yeah you just keep thinking I was with you for the sex! It's not like I had been saving myself for someone I loved or anything!" He says bringing his hands up to his face and rubbing at his eyes. Dammit, heroes didn't cry.

He felt hurt and betrayed and worst of all he knew part of it was right. If he had just done as he was told and broke up with Arthur then those people wouldn't have died and his brother would be safe right now instead he had lost them all and now he was losing Arthur too.

It felt like being kicked while he was down. He didn't know if he was more angry now or just plain sad. He pulled his badge out of his pocket and threw it on the ground at Arthur's feet. "Fine! Think of me however you want! Count yourself partnerless and boyfriendless now because I quit! I quit work and I quit you too! and good luck finding anyone else to put up with you, no wonder all your ever wanted for is sex." He says rather hatefully moving to head towards the door. He had come here for help but now all he wanted was to leave. He'd find his brother on his own and prove it wasn't he who was the killer. Then Arthur would eat his own words and they could go back to..back to what exactly. Alfred supposed...he could go back home with his brother. Find work there. What did dreams jobs and true love count for now anyways. He had just tossed them both out the window.

Arthur froze, eyes wide. Alfred's words felt like they were physically piercing his chest, digging deep and latching onto his heart with razor-sharp claws. He almost couldn't believe that Alfred -- sweet, gentle, kind Alfred -- was capable of saying such things.

All you're ever wanted for is sex.

Arthur grabbed his used teacup off the coffee table and threw it at Alfred's retreating back. It smashed against the wall with a loud crash, right where Alfred had been seconds before. "Get out!" he shouted, shoving Alfred roughly out of the door. "Get out, and don't ever come back! I never want to see your face again! Leave, you stupid, lying, sack of shit!"

He slammed the door as hard as he could and locked it, before turning and leaning backwards against the door. Slowly, he sank to the floor, burying his face in his knees. All you're ever wanted for is sex. He'd always known that it was true. It was a fact, just like how the sky was blue or grass was green. Alfred was right -- what kind of person would put up with someone like him? No one. Their farce of a relationship had been doomed from the beginning.

All you're ever wanted for is sex.

Arthur finally broke down into tears.

It was much later that a knock came at his door. Arthur's heart thudded painfully against his chest, for some reason hoping against everything that Alfred had come back. That Alfred would take his words back and say no, he hadn't meant it, and that Arthur was worth more than just a few rounds of sex. That it was possible to love even someone as contrary as Arthur.

Without bothering to wipe the tear-stains off his face, Arthur stood up and wrenched his door open. Instantly, the person barrelled inside, shoving Arthur against the wall and pressing a cloth over his nose and mouth.

Arthur's vision went fuzzy and his eyelids flickered as he tried to focus on his attacker. He tried to thrash or strike at the person, but his muscles had lost all strength, and he quietly slipped into unconsciousness.

--

Arthur gave a low groan as he woke. His chin was lolling against his chest and his shoulders ached. He had been left in a kneeling position with his arms bound together and suspended above his head, preventing him from slumping down to the ground. He could feel something wet and sticky on his shoulders, and he weakly raised his head see what it was.

Blood.

Arthur made a sound of distress and attempted to focus long enough to figure out where the blood had come from. That was when he felt it: searing pain down the underside of each arm, starting at the inside of the wrist and travelling down nearly to the crook of his elbow.

It seemed that the killer had made his first two cuts on his newest victim.

Alfred had drove away from Arthur's house. He didn't even know where he was going just that he had to leave there and ended up of all places in the parking lot of the college they had first worked with each other at. It brought back painful memories. He was just about to slump against the wheel of the car when he heard his phone ring. What a stupid time for it to do that he thought. Who would call him? His brother was missing and he no longer had a boyfriend to care about. Maybe it was the chief he thought with a weak laugh. How ironic would that phone call be.

Finally he decided to dig the phone out of the backseat where he had thrown it earlier. A quick glance at the caller ID and he had to do a retake. It was Matthew, Matthew was calling him. Maybe by some miracle he was somewhere safe and Alfred could come pick him up. He answered the phone in earnest. "Ma-" only to be interrupted.

"Detective..." The voice of their wanted man. He could feel his blood run cold now as a chill of dread creeped over him causing him to shiver.

" Detective, I think I have something you might be interested in.." The voice says sounding somewhere between bored and hopeful. "Your brother is currently at the fishing warehouse in the east part of town near the docks. I think you'd better come." And again before Alfred can get another word in he is left with a dead connection and really no other choice of what to do. He could always alert the station but..then he would have to admit he had just up and quit as well. Besides what had the station done for him this entire time but ignore his pleas for help. No he would do this on his own.

He backs out of the two spaces he had parked across and turns with a screech of tires to get onto the road again. He really had no time to waste.






Across town at that very warehouse there is a slim blonde in clothes reminiscent of something a sailor might wear. He is standing next to Matthew who is chained up quite similarly to Arthur only a few feet from him in fact. And although Matthews clothes are speckled with blood he seems to had yet to be harmed. He doesn't look happy though, even a bit scared.

The man, the killer, the murderer speaks standing between the two of them with his short sword in hand. A distinct Norwegian accent colors his voice although he is more than skilled in English. "No, this is necessary." He says to Matthew with an air of finality about it. That is all he says before he sees that Arthur is awake. He walks over to him pointing this weapon threateningly under Arthur's chin. "Don't move, scum."

Arthur froze when he felt the sharp blade pressing against the tender flesh of his throat. He still felt weak and woozy from whatever had been used to subdue him, and the sharp smell of his own blood was making his stomach roll. Still, he managed to lift his chin and glare at the man, taking in the appearance of the killer that they'd been after all this time.

They locked eyes and Arthur gave a weak snort. "I may be scum," he murmured, "but you are much worse than I am."

It seemed that Matthew was innocent after all, then. Instead of feeling disappointed that he'd been wrong, Arthur could only feel relieved that Alfred wouldn't have to arrest his own brother. Matthew also appeared unhurt, which was a blessing. "Why is Matthew here?" he demanded, his throat scratchy and dry. "He has nothing to do with this."

The killer only levels with Arthur with a cold gaze. He simply presses the blade further against Arthur's skin, a small cut forming there but nothing more. He's holding back killing him for now.

He casts a glance over at Matthew looking almost irritated. "He had everything to do with this." Is the response. "And so did you." It seems that the killer has no interest in explaining further though as he moves away then turning his back to the two of them and looking at the door expectantly.



Alfred almost has strangely perfect timing, almost like a movie he bursts through the door. Well, almost. He likes to think that he'd burst through the door all heroically, a zoom in on his face and a pose ready to battle...in all truth though he actually stumbles though the heavy metal door after banging on it a few times sending the sound echoing through the warehouse. He falls forward tearing the knees of his pants slightly, still in his work uniform from earlier although he is nothing of the picturesque cop coming to save the day. He looks around alarmed and when his eyes fall on his brother further into the building his expression is one of pure terror.

"Mattie!" He yells eyes focusing on his brother before anything else as he is the one he is looking for and there is a small moment of relief as he sees his brother unharmed. He steps forward hesitantly. The only advantage he has is thankfully he had the foresight to bring his belt of tools with him that morning. His cuffs, pepper spray and gun. Wait his gun! Yes that could work!

He pulls the weapon out of his belt with shaky hands and points it unsteadily around the room until it falls on the man walking over to his brother with a sword in his hand. "YOU!" Alfred yells, his voice cracking. "THIS IS ALL YOUR FAULT!" He accuses.


The killer just shakes his head unworried even with the gun pointed at him. "No. I'd say this was all your fault detective."

Dazedly, Arthur could feel more blood oozing down his arms, continuing to stain his shirt bright red. He had to do something... But he could barely lift his head now, let alone put up any kind of fight. Distantly, he wondered how much blood he'd lost already, but it was hard to focus. The colour began draining from his face, leaving him pale and weakened. 

He could hear some sort of commotion. Someone was looking for Matthew. Of course, he thought to himself. He should have felt bitter, but instead he felt nothing at all. Who would come for you? All you're ever wanted for is sex... And it would be difficult to fuck you while you're covered in your own blood and beginning to bleed out.

He was glad that someone had come for Matthew, though.

A familiar voice finally penetrated the haze surrounding Arthur and he jerked slightly, chains rattling. He couldn't look up, though. He refused to look at the man who had trampled all over his heart earlier, and even if he'd wanted to, he lacked the strength to do so. Alfred wasn't here to save him. Arthur didn't want to be saved, anyway. 

There is a rattling of chains to his right and Alfred points his gun in the direction of the noise thinking there is another killer in the room. What he finds though is far worse then any number of murderers added to the mix. He nearly drops his gun, lowering his arm in shock. "A-Arthur...no..no no why are you here too!" HE says voice pained and disoriented.

The killer actually springs a hint of a smile seeing that Alfred has noticed the other hostage. "They are both here for you...but you only get to leave with one. It's as simple as that. I trust you'll make the right choice because the other is going to be left with me." As if to demonstrate the man pulls on both of the chains Matthew and Arthur are hanging from bringing them both to kneel together in front of him. He takes his sword and gives Matthew a long cut across his forehead, it immediately bleeds covering his face in blood. Matthew shouts out, "AH! H-hey stop it!" The killer ignores him. "You can try to shoot me if you want..but I promise I will bring them both with me if you try it."

Alfred is struck confused and hurt. "Why are you doing this?..Why to me!? You've already drove me and Arthur apart..just.. leave us alone!"

At this the killer looks mildly surprised. "I don't believe you...you never gave into my demands before why would you do so now? No. you must choose. Your brother...or him?" He slides glances at Arthur almost hatefully.

Alfred looks at both Matthew and Arthur and for the life of him he's left jaw hanging open and shaking his head. "I can't!"

Arthur's eyes widened as he heard the man's demands. He was making Alfred choose? But that was... this entire situation was ridiculous. Why was Matthew here? What role did he play in this? Hazily, Arthur peered up at the man through half-lidded eyes, wonder where he'd seen him before. He couldn't concentrate though, and his eyelids felt too heavy so he let them slide shut. He was feeling dizzy and nauseous, and he wondered just how much blood he'd already lost.

Despite being angry with Alfred, Arthur knew that however much the American wanted to choose his brother, his ethics would prevent him from making a quick decision. What if the killer was impatient? Alfred had to state his choice quickly. He had to follow procedure. Civilians first. Matthew was a civilian. He was innocent, and had much to look forward to in the future. Arthur was a police officer; he was supposed to die in the line of duty. Who would miss him, anyway? It wasn't as if he was lovable, or anything of the sort. Alfred had said so himself. Whores were easy to find, anyway.

When Alfred continued to hesitate, Arthur knew that he had to do something. He had to hurt Alfred, to stir up so much hatred that Alfred wouldn't think twice about choosing Matthew. Otherwise, he risked both of them being killed, and he knew he couldn't allow that. Alfred needed his brother. No one needed Arthur.

He took a moment to summon his remaining strength, and lifted his head, glaring at Alfred fiercely. "What are you waiting for, you stupid piece of shit?" he snapped, injecting as much venom into his voice as possible. "Follow the bloody procedure! Bloody fucking hell, even I never thought you could be so fucking dumb! Why are you just standing there, you fucking twat? I told you that I never want to see your face again!"

Alfred's expression turned grave as he listened to Arthur. He steeled himself as much as he could against those words and however much of them where truth. He closed his eyes for only a second and toke a deep breath before he found himself responding quite angrily. "You think this is about procedure really?!" He spat back at Arthur. "Of course you would. I mean it's not like I might really be conflicted or anything...I either lose my brother or..whatever you are to me now." He says and however much he tries not to, now of all times tears are welling up in his eyes. He rubs at the furiously trying to focus again. "Besides I told you I quit the police force..I don't have any duty to anyone but myself anymore." This too seems to weight heavily on him.

The killer has had about enough of their chatting though he rises his foot and kicked Arthur over until he's hanging too his side now. A sharp blow to shut him up. "He has a point you know...go on choose your brother, even he thinks you should. You don't even have to feel any regret that way."

Matthew on the other hand has been oddly silent this entire time. He hangs his head low as if he just wishes he were elsewhere.

Alfred just shakes his head once more. "I don't care if you hate me Arthur, I'm still going to get everyone out of this alive..then you can go off where ever the hell you want...I'll probably be leaving town anyways." Alfred looks back at the killer, holding up his gun with tired arms. "Alright let's get this over with, what ransom do you want? I'm not choosing anyone but there's got to be another reason you did this..what do you really want? I'll get you whatever it is if you let both of them go." Alfred is putting his detective training to use finally. Getting to the bottom of the killers motives to solve this without anyone getting hurt. This had been his specialty in training and only now did it really have a chance to bloom under the worst circumstances.

Arthur gasped for breath, slumping as best he could with his arms still secured over his head. He'd felt something snap inside of him at the kick, and he let out tiny agonised breaths as he tried to control the pain. A broken rib, perhaps? At least it hadn't punctured anything. He wasn't coughing up blood yet. His arms and shoulders were aching but their was no relief for them, and his skin was becoming much too pale.

Ah, Alfred. Always trying to be the hero. Arthur listened to the American speaking, and smiled slightly even as he coughed and struggled for breath. Despite everything, Alfred held onto his morals and did his best. Arthur knew that he wasn't good for Alfred, but it was comforting to know that after this was all over, Alfred would continue to be doing his best to help other people. Maybe he would find someone actually worthy of him next time, though.

Even though he wanted to hate Alfred, he couldn't. Even if he was incapable of being loved, Arthur knew that he most certainly was capable of loving. He loved Alfred, even now.

But that didn't matter, did it?

The killer only seems amused by Alfred speech. "If you could get anything I want I would be impressed...no, the person I really wanted is dead and I killed him." He says with a slightly crazy undertone in his voice. That was bad, dealing with a sociopath was highly dangerous and unstable. "Do you know why?" He taunted slowing a little more emotion now finally. "Because he left me alone...he prefered his boyfriends company over mine." There was a sneer in his voice.

It toke Alfred a moment to realize what was going on and at first he just wore an expression of confusion but then it dawned on him. He glanced at Mattie. "I..I did the same thing.." he whispers to himself feeling awful as a wave of guilt hits him. Then he realizes another thing. "This is..about more than you just following me isn't it?" He says slowly.

The killer looks pleased jerking the chain Matthew is hanging by around a bit. "Of course, I saw a kindred spirit in Matthew here when he met that night in the club. I had just been killing people who frequented the place but then Matthew and I started talking. It turned out he had the same problem as me and I was a very good listener."

Suddenly Alfred's brother finally speaks up. "Stop it....STOP IT!" He says with some amount of courage. "This was never supposed to happen! I just thought I had found someone to complain to while I was in town." He says desperately a sharp cry in his voice. The killer silences him with a slap to the face again but Alfred already looks even more hurt then before.

"But now I was trying to settle this for Matthew..you were supposed to choose your brother and go live happily together like the life I was supposed to have with MY brother! Why do they never make the right choice!" He says the killer becoming violent and turning on Arthur then. "Do I need to get rid of the problem first!?" He raises his sword above Arthur ready to slice at him fatally and Alfred takes this chance to do something.

While the killer is distracted he aims and shoots the chain holding Matthew up. Let it never be said that he wasn't a good marksman. He yells for Matthew to run and in the split second that's left he throws himself at the killer knocking him to the ground where a wrestling match of sharp objects and guns begins.

Matthew ducks the the chain holding him up comes down around him. He still has his hands tied but he can get up and move now unhurt with the exception of a deep cut across his head the blood from it blurring his vision. He moves as soon as he is able to and skirts around the fighting two to Arthur and begins to try and untie him.