Safe and Sound

Chapter 3

For the next two months Alfred tried to learn how to walk with the prothesis leg.

It was hard, and sometimes he would just give up, but he tried.

And Oliver was there, cheering up on him, trying to motivate him, and give him reasons to continue.

And one of the reasons was Arthur.

He was always in Alfred's mind. When he felt down, and like giving up, he took Arthur's photo off from his wallet, looking at it and imagined how proud Arthur would have been if he continued.

And with the power of love and determination, he made it.

It was pretty cliche, but it worked so there was nothing to complain about.

He was now able to walk few steps without leaning on anything, and Oliver said that it was a good start. Oliver said that he would learn how to walk soon and that he was sure of it. Oliver said this and that, but Alfred wasn't sure what to think of him.

He had helped Alfred, and he appreciated that, but something about Oliver was a little bit.. off.

Every step he took, every word he said, was all facade. That's what Alfred thought and felt. Or then he was going mad, which wasn't a suprise after everything he had gone through.

But Alfred knew that he was probably wrong, he was a good man. He had helped him and he was always cheering Alfred up. He was there when Alfred had hard times, and Alfred could never thank him enough because of that. Alfred could almost pretend that Oliver was his Iggy. He had child's mind, it was easy. He saw what he wanted to see. It was almost sad how easy it was for him. But was it bad if he wanted to create his own happiness, even if it was almost impossible in the middle of war?

But still Francois' words rang through his head, everytime Oliver even looked at him.

Had Oliver hurt someone before?

Alfred wasn't stupid. He may be a little, but that didn't mean that he couldn't think by himself.

Alfred tried to push those thoughts in the back of his mind, where they could hide all of the day and slowly creep into his mind, back in the late hours of night.

But Alfred didn't show this to Oliver. He wanted to think that he actually was a good man. Alfred's imagination was just too wild, just like his mom used to say, when he had come to wake her up in the middle of the night, being scared of the monsters under his bed.

Mom had caressed his cheek, chuckling and saying something like: "There's nothing in there. Go back to sleep dear. Tomorrow is going to be a long day", and then she had kissed his head and gently pushed him towards his warm bed that was calling his name.

His mom was a great person, just like his dad, who taught him how to fix a table or how to act in the meetings, and other things that man would ever need in life. They were a perfect family, with no secrets to hide. They were the ones who everyone looked up to, and showed their whitest smile to them. And everyone would have stayed that way without a war. Oh, how he missed his family.. But they were gone. Forever.

Now he was living with Oliver, and before that with Arthur.

And from Alfred's point of view, Oliver had everything a man could ever need. He had a place what to call home, food, money, everything. Only thing he was lacking of was a wife-

"Alfred? Why are you crying? Does it hurt? Do you need a doctor? Please say something!" Oliver said, taking Alfred away from his thoughts as he slowly touched his cheek, noticing a little trail of warm tears running down his soft cheek. He hadn't noticed that he was crying.