US x UK: Chapter 10

"Oh god Artie" Alfred's voice sounded from above him. He lifted his arm weakly and waved at him, but his hand fell meekly to his side again. He felt Alfred approaching him slowly, as though he was scared of him.

"I guess I look bad don't I?" Arthur whispered. He knew that Alfred would hear him.

"Ya look like shit" He commented, he felt something warm touch his cheek, slowly wiping and caressing his bruised face. "Who did this?" He asked.

"No one" Arthur replied, he felt his head fall into the hand that held his cheek, his body leaned towards Alfred's strong and steady form. He felt arms winding around him, gently and carefully, trying not to cause more pain.

"Don't you dare lie to me Artie. Ya can't say you fell into a door this time. Tell me. Now" He said forcefully. Arthur felt himself burying his face into Alfred's chest, grabbing his shirt with his hands, one of the parts of his body that wasn't damaged.

"Sam, it was Sam" He heard an intake of breath, Alfred was honestly surprised.

"Asshole, I'm going to kill him. And he was tryin' to be my friend, god I'm gonna kill him" Alfred said in an infuriated whisper.

"No, he'll only make it worse" Arthur said softly, his lips were going numb, and his head was pounding so badly. And yet, he felt oddly comforted lying in Alfred's arms.

"No he won't, if he dares goin' near ya again, I don't know what I'd do" He responded angrily, he seemed to shaking with anger, it made Arthur scared.

"Alfred" He whispered, he could feel himself getting sleepy, he knew it would be dangerous for him to fall asleep right now; he was fighting to stay awake. "My head really hurts" Alfred looked down at the smaller boy and clutched him closer, then lifted him from the floor, swinging his bag over his shoulder and carried Arthur from the school building.

He laid him on his bed, covering him with the superhero duvet and then went to get the first aid kit from downstairs. Artie was slowly drifting to sleep, he had been fighting it for a while but his eyes were closed and they wouldn't open again, Alfred returned quickly.

"Mum is calling the police" He said simply, Arthur's heart stopped.

"Wha-what?" He asked weakly.

"She's calling the police, ya can't 'spect her to let them get away with it"

"I don't want trouble" Arthur said softly. Alfred laughed.

"Artie ya attract trouble" Alfred pulled the covers away and pulled Arthur up so he could see to his injuries, he leaned him against the head board. Arthur's head slumped weakly forward. He felt Alfred fumble with his shirt and then eased it over his head and Arthur didn't even have the energy to be embarrassed. The intake of breath meant he knew it was bad, really bad. "Shit Artie" Alfred said softly. He began to wipe and dab at the bruises, trying to bring down any swelling and bruising as quickly as possible. He pulled Arthur gently away from the head board and made him lean on his chest as he cleaned his back. He then wrapped a tight bandage around his ribs, trying to ease any pain he may feel, being so gentle and caring. "How are ya legs?" Alfred asked once he had rested Artie back onto the pillows, stroking the hair from his battered face.

"Uh- well- they are fine" Arthur lied.

"I told ya not to lie to me" Alfred said with a sigh. "Can you get ya pants off, I need to treat it" He said a little sadly. Arthur moved his arms weakly and fumbled with the buttons, then tried pulling them down unsuccessfully, Alfred had to help him. This time Arthur was blushing so brightly he wouldn't be surprised if it was glowing past his wounds. He was cleaned and bandaged and then Alfred covered his body with the quilt and then began to wipe his face. He gently cleaned away all the dried blood that encrusted his face, wiping at the open eyebrow wound and the cut on his lip. His nose had long since stopped bleeding, but that didn't mean it didn't hurt. Well, his whole body hurt, Arthur thought correcting himself. He felt a few plasters and cream being applied to his face and a gentle finger running across his lips causing his face to heat up from the touch. "Rig-right" Alfred croaked. "Ya look a lil better now the blood is gone, but ya still look like shit" He said, Arthur weakly opened his swollen eyes and looked up at Alfred.

"Thank you. Thank you for being my friend" He said sweetly. "I'm sorry I pushed you away in school, I didn't want you to get bullied by Sam. I'm sorry I am so mean" He added softly. "I'm really glad I met you" He sighed softly and was asleep quickly.

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Arthur stretched weakly in the warmth of the bed and realised there was someone lying across him, he blushed and looked at Alfred sleeping sweetly next to him. Completely sprawled over him. Arthur smiled a little and then closed his eyes again, resting against the soft pillow facing the sleeping Alfred. Arthur was beginning to drift back to sleep when he felt a soft hand on his face, his eyes opened quickly, and his heart raced and his face burned red. "Artie, it looks real bad" He commented, looking at his face softly.

"The police want to talk to you when you're feeling better" All Arthur could do was nod.

"And we have to call your parents, I'm sure they are so worried" Arthur shook his head lightly.

"They are on a business trip, won't be back till next week"

"We should still give them a bell Artie" He smiled and then leapt from the bed suddenly, making Arthur feel cold, he pulled the quilt back up to his neck and closed his eyes again.

"I don't want to trouble them. I've caused so much trouble to your family already" Arthur said sheepishly and he pulled the quilt over his head to hide his shame. He felt a gentle hand prising the quilt away from his hands, showing Arthur's deep red, bruised and broken face, his eyes watering shamefully.

"Ya haven't once troubled us, and ya parents would be so hurt if ya didn't tell them what was goin' on. I just don't understand why ya dint tell no-one"

"I didn't want to get anyone in trouble, I don't want you to have to suffer because of me" A single tear leaked down his face. Alfred smiled at him and caught it with his finger.

"No need to cry Artie. I understand, but why did they even do it? What happened between you and Sam?" Arthur closed his eyes and turned away from him, wiping the second tear away from his face he wouldn't tell Alfred that, if he told him, he would have to tell the police and his parents. He wasn't ready to tell them he was gay yet.

"I can't tell you" He said softly. "I'm not ready, I just can't"

"Well ya 'ave to, 'cause we need to know what to say to the police" Alfred said quickly. Arthur couldn't catch his breath. Would he really have to tell everyone, surely no one go near him after that, he wanted to walk away from Alfred but he could barely move. I can't breathe. Arthur placed his hand on his chest and tried to catch his breath again, there was no way he could tell them such an intimate part of his life to his friend. A friend whom he happened to have a huge crush on.

"I really ca-can't Alfred. I-I'm not-I'm not ready" Arthur felt his body shaking and then he slowly bean to cry; his whole body was shaking in fear. How could he possibly open up to the whole world that he was attracted to guys when he had barely been able to deal with it himself. It had only been a few months before Alfred had moved here that he had realized his own sexuality, and he had fallen for Alfred hard and fast. Now he had to tell him? No Arthur would refuse absolutely.

"Why don't ya trust me Artie?" He heard Alfred's quiet voice behind him.

"I do trust you" He said trying to clear away his fallen tears and look into those beautiful blue eyes and then he smiled. "I honestly do, I just can't tell you. You won't understand"

"Well how do ya know if ya don't tell me?" He said, his voice rising in frustration.

"Please don't get angry Alfred" Arthur said sighing and rubbing his eyes, they were a little painful but it was a natural reaction.

"How can I not get angry when my best friend won't talk to me when something bad has happened to him? How can I not be pissed that ya won't tell me ya secrets? I thought we told each other everything" This stunned Arthur. Best friends? Was he really Alfred's best friend? A feeling in the pit of his stomach was telling him he really didn't want to be his best friend. He wanted more. But he was happy, and found himself smiling like a silly idiot.

"Really? Am I really your best friend?" Arthur asked as he sat up against the headboard, looking up at Alfred, with big eyes . Alfred looked at him seemingly surprised by Arthur's question, but after a few moments he smiled.

"'Course ya are stupid, we hang around every day and have the most fun I ever had. And yet we do the same thing I 'ave done with all my other friends" Alfred frowned slightly then his smile grew brighter.

"I haven't had a best friend before" Arthur said smiling.

"So Artie, will ya tell me?"

"Yes I will" He said calmly. "But not today, I don't want to argue with you about it anymore. My head is kind of hurting right now, but I will tell you Alfred. Can you just be patient for me?" Arthur asked pleadingly.

"Ya free for now Artie, ok? But ya'll tell me when ya ready won't ya?"

"I promise you'll be the first to know" He said, then lowered his head onto the pillow; his head had begun to ache terribly. "Can I sleep now?" He asked yawning. He heard Alfred's laugh and smiled, he really did love the sound of his laugh.