TRIBULATIONS

19.

"..Sir?" Arthur anxiously asked as he stared at the Man who was angrily approaching him.

Pierre lifted his hand up and Arthur instinctively backed up, but Pierre was faster. He grabbed the back of his head, and pulled him towards his face. Arthur's eyes widened in fear and confusion, but before he could open his mouth to question the angry man,

Pierre raised his voice, clearly enraged by something unknown. "DO YOU KNOW WHAT YOU JUST DID?!"

Arthur's heart picked up it's pace, he felt it leap out of shock. "What are you talking—"

"Oh? What am I talking about?" Pierre asked mockingly.

Arthur clenched his teeth, his nose flared up with anger. "I understand where you're coming from, I know what I did. But I have a feeling there's more to it, so could you please enlighten me?!"

Pierre chuckled darkly, "..Unbelievable. So you think you know me?"

Arthur tugged on his hold with his free left hand. "Let go of me, and just tell me what you want! I have more important things to do!" His right hand gripping onto Pierre's ribcage.

Pierre knew he was taking his anger out on Arthur, but before he could stop himself, his hand that gripped his hair was already flinging him to the floor. Arthur groaned against the muddy floor, his face was stained with the mud, and he felt his head spin with the impact. He whipped his head to glare up at Pierre, "..I said I'd work for you, what more do you want from me? If you have a problem with me, just—"

Pierre raised his hands up, Arthur thought he would get hit, so he lifted his arms up to shield himself from the scary man. But Pierre's hands reached down to grab his collar, and he slammed him against the wall. Arthur yelped.

Pierre sinisterly asked. "Earlier, with the gangs, do you know what the fuck you caused?"

Arthur's eyes opened in realization, his lower lip quivered. He seemed to be in denial. "..I.. How.." He shook his head.

Pierre let his hands drop, Arthur fell down, and was about to slide down the wall weakly until Pierre slammed his big knuckles against the walls, Arthur was in the middle and he flinched. "..I didn't.. I didn't.."

Pierre lowly said. "Do you know how much trouble you put me in? In less than a day too?!"

He stepped closer, glaring down at the trembling Man. "Brenden will be looking for you, and he'll have you burned for killing one of his men."

Arthur's head snapped up, he exhaled, he looked breathless. "..I.. I don't know why.. I don't know why I did it.." His eyes teared up. "..I don't know what's wrong with me—"

Pierre chuckled without any humour. "Me neither. But guess what? There's nothing I can do about that. You're on your own."

Arthur trembled in fear as Pierre removed his hands on the wall, and turned, about to leave him there. Arthur rushed towards the man, he grabbed his arm and spinned him around. Pierre laughed, making fun of the state he was in. But there was no amusement present on his face or voice, Arthur asked. "..You promised you'd protect us... Won't you protect me?"

Pierre barked out loud, he slapped his hand against his forehead, laughing at the idiotic person in front of him. He stepped forward, intimidating Arthur who tried to stop the tears. "Oh.. I never made any promises. I don't need you, so I should just throw you out."

Arthur gulped fearfully, the tears ran down his face as he re-thought everything that transpired moments ago, weeks ago even. "..Please.. Pierre—"

Pierre raised a taunting brow, "Pierre?—"

Arthur shouted, he was frantic. He was going mad, as was Pierre, who finally realized it. He blankly stared at the man who was losing his mind. "..Sir! Please.. Please.. I'm begging you, I can't go.. I can't go back there anymore. I won't survive, I really won't,"

He rushed towards Pierre's side, he grabbed the man's biker jacket, looking up at his brown eyes that raked over his frantic state. "..Protect me.. I'll work, I'll make it up to you, I'll do anything, I can't go back there!"

He sobbed as he let his head drop. "I didn't want to kill anyone.. I never wanted that. This past few weeks, it has been.. surreal. I can't believe this is happening, I can't believe my parents are dead, I have no one left, only Bennett. If I go.. I won't make it without him, or anyone else! I can't be alone, I can't! I wish I could change everything, I swear.."

He sniffled. "I wish.. I wish.."

Pierre squinted his eyes, contemplating what was right in his mind. Seeing the man shed tears made his anger simmer down. He could see himself in him, ten years ago, how hysteric he had been.

Pierre groaned annoyingly, he grabbed Arthur's arm and dragged him towards him as he turned around and started to walk through the streets. The weather was chilly, the sun had already gone down making Pierre wonder how long he had been out.

For now, he forced Arthur to pick up his pace so that they could arrive to his hidden lair. Where he kept his things given to him by the Superhuman themselves. Pierre stored those things there because they held many memories but also because that was where he kept his motorbike. He put on his sunglasses, and made another turn.

Eventually, they arrived. Arthur was heaving, exhausted. Pierre entered a door hidden from prying eyes, he shut it and tightened his grip on Arthur's arm, who sniffled and groaned. He tripped when going up the stairs, so Pierre was forced to yank him to his feet, he grabbed his two arms and hauled him in front of him. Pierre stared down at the curly head, he titled his head to the right and left to observe the way Arthur was moving his feet, making sure he did not trip again as they walked up the stairs.

Arthur's eyes were weak and sore from all of the crying, he was still sniffling. As Pierre's hold was on Arthur's arms, his eyes locked themselves on his elbows that had scratches, and he moved his jaw side to side, guilt ate him. But at least he managed to stop himself from inflicting more harm on the younger male.

Arthur still clung onto Pierre in fear that the man was plotting something terrible against him. He was mentally unstable, and he wasn't sure how long he would need to sort himself out.

They reached the top of the stairs, Pierre pressed a button, Arthur lifted his eyes and saw that they were entering an Elevator. He didn't question the man, which told Pierre that he really was out of it. The elevator opened, and Pierre gently pushed Arthur forward, prompting him to take a few steps further into the Elevator.

They were inside. Arthur's knees bucked, but with Pierre's strong grip on him, he did not meet the floor. Pierre clicked his tongue, he forced himself to not say any harsh words to him, but he failed miserably. "..Fuck. Hold onto me."

Arthur gripped onto his jacket, he hated feeling so weak, but what could he do? He was reeling, on the verge of letting go of any ounce of control he had left.

The Elevator opened, and his jaw dropped slightly at the massive room. There were a tons of things here, toys, books, boxes, clothes, and a motorbike.

Arthur was still in front of Pierre, pressed against him as they walked forward. His eyes glued themselves on the bike, he had never seen anything like it before. It was painted black, a black helmet resting on it. Arthur's eyes moved around the room, artworks hanged on the walls, the curtains were closed. There was absolutely no light shining in the room.

Pierre walked towards the untouched bed, untouched for ten years. He sighed as he sat Arthur down whose eyes curiously followed his retreating figure. Pierre checked his bike, it had been unused for only a few weeks. He hadn't forgotten how to ride one, of course. He looked around the room in hopes of finding another helmet.

And he did.

He furrowed his eyebrows, it was the Superhuman's helmet. They had ridden together before they went missing, after all, this was a present gifted to him by the Superhuman. The helmet was a dark shade of red.

Pierre had it painted as he thought the Superhuman would like it. And they did. He picked it up, and used his hands to remove any speck of dust. Blowing the dust away, he turned around and he stared into amber eyes. "..Come. I have a place to show you."