Reunion In A Restaurant In Michigan

Alfred's Origin Story Pt 5

Mattie finds Alfred. 

Alfred is brain damaged and has fully developed BPD by this point, which is untreated completely bc of his mother. Because of that, Alfred doesn't remember things totally accurately. 

Alfred POV

One day, the pills I'm given run out. 

I don't waste time. I gather my things, the task taking an unusually long time because I've got a lot of stuffed animals now. 

I finally decide on Whale Dude, and book it. 

I run down the street, limping and feeling rather sick. Since I had a fall a while ago, I've felt so off and my heart seems to be acting funny. 

Just as I'm ready to collapse, a truck rumbles up next to me. I fall to the ground, Whale Dude clutched in my arms. 

"Remember what I said about doing drugs? Shit, Al. Can you get up? Shit, he can't. Come on, you doofus."

Mattie helps me off the ground, letting me lean on him. "Geez, you're skin and bones! Come on, I'll buckle you in. Lay down back there, okay? Yeah, good job buddy."

Mattie lectures me the whole time about doing drugs. I barely pay attention. I'm with my brother now. He won't hurt me. No more pills. No more...where am I again? Why can't I move right?!

"Call the stroke team! Shit. Sir, thank you for bringing him in. What is this kid's name? Ar eyou related?"

"He's my brother Alfred. He's been missing for two years."

A light is shone in my eyes. 

"...high off his ass, you gotta get his blood and all that crap."

"No, sir, this is not just drugs. The stroke team is here, we will need you to step out."

My soft...thing...is still in my arms. What is it again?

Something pokes my arm, and I hear words and beeping and...

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I stay in the hospital for weeks. I'm a fall risk, I'm pissing myself, and I can't even sit up on my own. 

And yes, I fucking hate it. 

Whale Dude and Mattie and even my eagle are here with me, thankfully. I am transferred to a Michigan hospital in our town, to my relief. 

I even end up on the news, to my dismay. I silently hope Ivan and the others get to see me alive, and then panic when I realize Mom could find me. 

When I panic so badly I begin to forget where I am, Mattie is right there. "She's in jail, Alfie."

I yell, "DON'T CALL ME ALFIE EVER AGAIN!"

After I get over a quick bout of hating him, a phenomena that has gotten only constant now, I timidly apologize. "Mom called me that."

He smiles sadly. "I get it, Al."

When I can finally walk again, I leave the hospital. I'm situated at home with Mattie, not particularly wanting to see Dad yet. 

I have a cane to use at home, which I ignore, until I fall in the kitchen. 

One lonely night, when Mattie is off somewhere, I find alcohol in the cupboard.

Mattie comes home to find me sobbing on the floor. I whimper and cry desperately as he wordlessly helps me to my bed. "Sleep it off, okay little bro?"

Eventually, I am well enough to leave the house on my own. Mattie stays nearby, likely out of worry and paranoia. The court trials are almost done, to my utmost relief. 

I see a Russian restaurant, and I smile in my new lopsided way. Sure enough, when I go in, I spot a very familiar duo. 

After stumbling through ordering myself some pelmeni and pop, I settle at a table and watch Ivan picking at his soup, wondering if he will even want to see me. What if he's mad at me? What if he can't handle my disability or my illnesses?

My face, of course, is on the news. I grit my teeth and close my eyes as anger wells up. But I push it down, forcing it into a corner for later. Ivan and Kat are here. 

When I see Kat skip over to a Chinese cop I vaguely remember seeing around years ago, I take my chance. I psych myself up. This is Ivan. I know him. 

As I get closer, I notice that Ivan is a good deal chubbier than I remember. I have to smile, wishing I could squish his chubby cheeks, be in his warm arms again. He...he looks so hot.

He seems to notice me when I stand next to his table, expecting a warm welcome, maybe even a hug and a hand grabbing my now nonexistent ass. But Ivan seems to think I am a waiter, to my confusion and amusement. His accent is still so cute. "Yes, it's delicious, thank you so much."

I nervously shuffle my feet. "Mind if I sit down?"

Ivan jerkily nods, his arm twitching in the direction of Kat's purse. I move the large red leather shoulder bag over, looking with at affection at the little charms on the strap. Kat has not changed. Pain shoots through my spine when I sit, but I ignore it. 

When a few minutes pass and he's still staring at me like I am a Martian, I blurt, "Ivan, what happened to you?"

He opens his mouth, swallows, but can't seem to speak. He begins aggressively drinking his dessert, ignoring me. Worried, I exclaim, "Dude, calm down! You might choke! It's a restaurant, not the...jungle."

Ivan stops slurping when his milkshake is all gone. He stares with a rather pouty expression at the bottom of his glass. I begin to feel something icy and cold. No. What if he hates me? Is he mad at me? Did he move on and find someone else? Am I just a forgotten relic now?

I touch the sleeve of his knit sweater, my heart hammering, unable to breathe right. "Ivan. Dude, you're scaring me. Just...look at me, okay?"

Ivan looks at my hand, then my arm, then my face. Something lights up in his violet eyes, and I feel relief. He's finally being himself! He gets up, towering over me. When did he get even taller? My smile fades, and I begin to feel fear. But he falls to his knees, sobbing. I cradle his face, my own heart breaking. 

His voice shakes and his accent is stronger than ever. "Where were you?"

I cradle him like there's no tomorrow. I have my Ivan back. "Ask me anything."