You Haven't Got A Clue

Part One

"You know, if you're lonely, you can talk to me..." Alfred said, looking over at the boy with interest.

It came out more of a question, less of the empathetic voice he was looking for. He had been watching this curious boy for years upon years, months upon months, weeks upon weeks. He was a very quiet boy who didn't speak unless spoken to, and hardly lifted his head up unless to answer the teacher. And even that was seldom.
He jumped up from his book, staring at Alfred with shaky eyes. Alfred was taken aback- the boy, Kiku Honda, seemed so scared by such a suggestion. But why, he didn't know. Didn't everyone want to talk to friends about their problems? Questions that kept them up at night, dreams that caused them to toss and turn in their sleep, didn't they report it to their friends? Did... Did Kiku even have any?

Kiku had been in the majority of Alfred's classes for years. They both seemed fond of each other- and even more fond of badgering one another, silently one upping the other's actions- testing each other. Who would crack first? Who would talk to the other first? The tension between them couldn't be deciphered even by the most seasoned fox- who knew what they were thinking? Was the tension a question, much like the ones that kept Alfred up at night? A simultaneous nod that went both ways, a mutual Why do I always find your eyes on me? kind of stare. A stare, a nod of the head, a competition. An, I know you find me interesting, too. A pleasant thing. Or, was it more of, Why the hell are you always looking at me? kind of tension that could very well go both ways?

After what could've been one minute, or ten, Alfred didn't think Kiku would answer him. And after all the thinking Alfred had done under what could've been a minute (that could make up for fifteen years of dilly dallying), he didn't think he'd pry. But Kiku looked down at the ground, an unsure look on his rather perfect face.

"Who... Who said I was lonely?"

He looked up to face Alfred with dull eyes through shaggy hair, taking his stand. The possible start of another longer, much bigger competition?

Alfred did not want to be rude. He didn't want to see the boy he'd been watching for years driven away. But this one really was too much.

"Well, dude, I mean... You're always in that isolation of yours. You never look up, nothing. You never speak unless spoken to, and I never see you with people," He said, shaking his head. He could've honestly rattled off more things that described the boy, but for now, he left it at that.

"I... I don't know what you mean..." He said unevenly, turning his head away. After all these years, after all of his well thought out yet simultaneously impulsive comebacks, had just been blown over by a cold gust, a gentle wind that spoke louder than words ever could. The mound of words that this so called 'King' stood on had been knocked over, precariously built by Alfred. It was no wonder, seeing how haphazardly he had stacked them, but he wasn't going to give up very easily.

"Hey- Sorry to make you uncomfortable, really. I just wanted- want to be your friend!" He exclaimed, putting his unfamiliar hand on the boy's shoulder. Kiku turned to face him immediately, staring at his hand. But- it was gentle. And Alfred felt that his touch was not unwelcomed.

"R-Really? Me? Friends with zipperhead?" He asked, looking at Alfred with truly shocked eyes. They were no longer scared. The statement said was not meant to be self depreciating. It was real, true surprise at such a thing. His eyes looked wavering- much different than that regular dulled appearance. Almost as if he was going to cry from something Alfred could not place. Alfred looked at him in shock- what did he mean?

"Wha- Of course! I'm not gonna hate you like everyone else because your skin is a bit different than mine," He said, smiling at the boy, showing him all his pearly white teeth. Alfred was not going to let war stand in his way. Kiku again looked taken aback- even a little scared. But he nodded nonetheless, sweeping his hair out of his eyes.