.:WFAF:. Chapter 25

.:When fallen Angels fly:.

Chapter 25
I'm laying on the couch, flipping the card Ludwig gave me in my hand. Arthur is sitting in front of the couch on the ground. I asked him if he wants to sit next to me but he said he didn't mind. He is flipping through one of my Photo Albums again. Every time he sees a photo and remembers it, because he dreamed of it, he gets up and shows it to me. I'm happy he's remembered so much now. I'm hoping that one day he will remember everything. When he went through all the Photo Albums he stands up and puts them all back in the bookcase. After that he comes back and looks down at me. He stares at the card flipping in my hand and smiles.
"If that's all you do every day, it's no wonder you don't have a job yet," he says.
I smile back at him. If he starts teasing me, than why not teasing him back?
"You also haven't found a job yet," I say.
"Well… I'm an Angel. Angels don't need a job," he defends himself.
"I thought finding a soul mate was an Angel's job," I say.
Arthur shakes his head, still having a big smile on his face.
"Nope. That is our duty. A job and a duty are two different things. If you don't like your job you can resign. A duty is something you must do, even if you don't like it," Arthur explains.
"I know what the differences are between a job and a duty, wiseacre," I say while giggling.  
Suddenly I don't find it so funny anymore. A duty is something you must do, even if you don't like it. That means that even if Arthur wants to stay by my side… he has to go. Arthur notices that something is bothering me but instead of asking what is wrong he strokes with his hand through my hair. His touch… feels so nice…
"What is going on in your head, Alfred?" he asks.
The little smile appears on my face again, though this one looks a bit sad and forced.
"Too many things. Things that shouldn't be bothering you, so I keep them to myself," I declare.
Arthur comes closer. My heart starts beating faster.
"Please tell me, I can make the pain fade away," he says.
I get a light blush on my cheeks and look, a bit ashamed, away from Arthur. You can make the pain fade away, but also yourself.
"No really, it's nothing," I say.
He still doesn't believe me but he stops asking me what's wrong. He rubs his eyes.
"I'm tired," he says while gaping.
He bends his body even more over me.
"Can I sleep on your chest?" he asks.
Without waiting for an answer he lies on my chest. My heart is beating so fast. I can't think clearly anymore. The only think I can think of is that his body is against mine, and that I want him so badly. But I've not completely lost my mind, so the only thing I do is hug him. Arthur gets a satisfied smile on his face and closes his eyes.
"Alfred, I can hear your heart," he whispers.
He opens one eye again and looks at me.
"It's beating so fast," he says.
I smile while stroking him through his hair.
"And who's fault would that be?" I ask.
A little giggle passes his lips. Arthur closes him eyes again and continues listening to my heart.
"I don't know, but I like listening to it," he whispers. "Because as long as I can hear your heart, I know you're with me."
Somehow Arthur's words make me happy. It means he also doesn't want to lose me. I keep stroking him through his hair. After some time I notice how Arthur's breathing has gotten slower, he must be asleep. To make sure I don't wake him up I stop stroking him. My eyelids are also becoming heavy. Maybe I'll also sleep for a while. I slowly close my eyes, listening to Arthur's breathing. Suddenly my iPhone is ringing. I sigh, what a timing. I carefully lay Arthur on the couch, quickly get it out of my pocket and take it. That's weird, I hear nothing.
"Hello?" I ask.
Nothing happens. Just on the moment I want to hang up I hear the voice from my nightmares.
"No need to be afraid… Alfred…" he whispers.
For the second time in two days I drop my iPhone. I swear, one day or another it will break. Quickly I take my iPhone from the ground.
"Who is this?" I asks.
The person says nothing. My hands are beginning to sweat, fear slowly finds his way through my body.
"Whoever you are, leave me alone," I say a bit angry.
I want to hang up but the voice again stops me from doing that.
"Don't you want to know who killed Arthur?" he asks.
For a moment I can't say a word. I look at my sleeping Angel. He looks so peaceful.
"Yes…" I answer.
"Good, this is what you have to do. When your brother comes home look in his left coat pocket. There will be three keys inside. If you find out which doors they can open, you will find out who killed Arthur," the voice says.
Confused I stare at my Angel.
"What do you mean?" I ask.
For a long time the person says nothing. After some time I start thinking he hung up or something but I know I'm wrong when I hear his voice again.
"No need to be afraid, Alfred. No need to be afraid…"
Then the person hangs up. The beeps that follows make me feel even more afraid, so I quickly also hang up. Who… was that?
"I'm home!" I hear Matthew say.
I check if Matthew woke up Arthur but Arthur is still in a deep sleep.
"Welcome home," I say while walking towards him.
Matthew looks concerned at me.
"You look like you have seen a ghost. What happened?" he ask.
Deep inside my heart I want to tell Matthew everything, but I now I can't do that. Not only wouldn't he believe he, he would also send me to a madhouse.
"Nothing," I lie.
I didn't even do my best to make it sound as if I meant it. I see in Matthew's eyes how hurt he is because I won't tell him the truth. But I can't tell him, I just can't. I grab his hands and stare in his eyes.
"I'm sorry," I say.
For some time Matthew keeps staring at me with that pain in his eyes, but after that he just closes his eyes and nods. I think he understands me, that he knows I can't tell him. When he opens his eyes again it's like he is a whole other person.
"Let prepare supper together. It will be fun," he says with a happy voice.
I don't really feel like making supper, but I should do this for Matthew.
"Alright then," I say.
After one last check of Arthur still is sleeping, I follow Matthew to the kitchen.
"So what will be made today, chef cook?" I ask Matthew.
Matthew smiles. I'm happy to see he still can.
"Nothing really special. Just some boiled potatoes, peas and chicken," he says.
I nod and start washing and peeling the potatoes with Matthew together. It not my favourite job, but I'm happy Matthew and I are doing something "normal" together. I still feel ashamed of myself when thinking back of our kiss. I'll never drink again, I swear.
"I heard you visited Francis' bookstore today," Matthew says.
Without looking away from the potato I'm peeling I answer Matthew.
"Yes. I just wanted to talk to him," I say.
"About what?" he says.
I still refuse to look in his eyes.
"About you," I lie.
Matthew says nothing, but I can feel how he's holding in his anger. He is probably thinking I have nothing to do with the relationship between Francis and him, and that I can't decide what is good for him or not.
"Whatever you talked about with him, Francis seemed really upset when I met him today," Matthew says.
So Francis went to the hospital to talk to Matthew. I wonder what he told him.
"Is that so?" I ask.
Suddenly Matthew grabs me by my shoulders and turns me hard-handed around so he can look in my face.
"Look at me!" he says with tears in his eyes.
Because of his sudden move I cut myself with my knife. The potato I was peeling dropped on the ground. When Matthew sees the deep cut in my hand his anger immediately takes place for concern.
"I'm so sorry! I didn't meant to…"
"It's okay. I will go to the bathroom  to clean the wound," I say.
Without saying another word I walk out of the kitchen, leaving my dearest crying brother behind.